THE student loan scheme should be backed by a job guarantee to make it more effective. This is the view of the immediate-past Education Secretary of Ikorodu Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mr. Afolabi Amusa. The educationist, whose five-year tenure ended on June 16, lauded the scheme as a bold and welcome initiative. He said: “The scheme addresses a long-standing barrier—access to higher education due to financial constraints. “However, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 33 per cent of Nigerian youths are unemployed. “Therefore, the loan scheme must be accompanied by policies that guarantee employability, such as aligning tertiary education with market demands and fostering entrepreneurship. “If well-managed, this could be a game-changer in breaking the poverty cycle and widening access to education for millions of deserving students.” Having served for five years before opting to retire, Amusa understands what needs attention in Lagos S...