A television presenter has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s opposition to Nigeria’s student loan scheme as “bad politics,” saying the policy should not be judged by partisan interests but by its potential to expand educational access.

Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, a host on TVC News, made the remarks on his show while responding to Atiku’s criticism of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party had previously questioned the viability of the loan scheme, arguing it could burden graduates with debt and that the government should instead focus on funding education through taxation and budgetary allocations.

Kolade-Otitoju pointed to international precedent, noting that student loan programmes exist in wealthier nations including the United States. He said opposition to the scheme appeared to be driven by political calculations rather than concern for students.

“Even in the US and other great countries of the world that are more prosperous than Nigeria, student loans exist,” Kolade-Otitoju said. “Some people are now making it look like it’s a bad thing for you to have a student loan. It’s just politics, bad politics. It is bad politics that ensures people turn the truth upside down.”

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, provides interest-free loans to Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions. The scheme began disbursing funds in June 2024 after months of administrative setup.

Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has been one of the scheme’s most prominent critics. In a series of social media posts and public statements, he has argued that the loan structure could create a generation of indebted graduates and that the government should prioritise grants and direct funding for education.

Supporters of the scheme say it addresses a critical gap in higher education funding, where many qualified students are unable to afford tuition and related expenses. The scheme is funded through a percentage of revenues from Nigeria’s federation account and other government sources.

Kolade-Otitoju said the scheme’s benefits should be evaluated on its merits rather than through partisan lenses. He urged critics to acknowledge the challenges faced by students who lack access to higher education due to financial constraints.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has expressed cautious support for the scheme while calling for more transparent disbursement processes and ensuring that the loans reach the intended beneficiaries. Some education policy analysts have also raised concerns about the scheme’s long-term sustainability and the repayment mechanisms for graduates entering a challenging job market.

Neither Atiku nor his spokespersons have responded to Kolade-Otitoju’s remarks. The Peoples Democratic Party has not issued any official statement on the matter.