Abuja, NIGERIA — Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has described the academic achievement of Caleb Olugbenga Oladepo as a definitive validation of President Bola Tinubu’s student loan policy.
In a statement released on Thursday, Onanuga claimed that the success story should serve as a permanent rebuttal to opposition critics.
The reaction followed a public testimonial from Oladepo, who emerged as the Best Graduating Student at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
Graduating with a First Class B.Tech degree and a CGPA of 4.89/5.0, Oladepo took to X (formerly Twitter) to credit the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for making his education possible.
Okay News reports that the student emphasized that the loans bridged the gap created by his “parental financial challenges.”
“A testimony about President Tinubu’s policy impact that should keep Peter Obi, Atiku, and Kwankwaso quiet forever,” Onanuga remarked. He emphasized that the NELFUND policy was an “intentional” intervention designed specifically to ensure that talented students like Caleb are not denied tertiary education due to a lack of funds.
The NELFUND initiative, a cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Agenda, has faced skepticism from opposition leaders since its inception, with some questioning its sustainability and reach. However, the Presidency is now using Oladepo’s distinction at LAUTECH’s 18th Convocation as tangible evidence of the program’s ability to foster academic excellence among the nation’s indigent but brilliant youth.
As the administration continues to scale the loan program, Onanuga maintained that the focus remains on institutionalizing a system where financial background does not determine academic destiny.
