President Bola Tinubu says his commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for Nigerian children, regardless of their financial circumstances, informed the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In a post on his official X handle, @OfficialABAT, President Tinubu said his experience of financial hardship while pursuing university education in the United States reinforced his determination to remove financial barriers to education for young Nigerians.
He disclosed that his administration had provided over ₦372 billion in student loans through NELFUND to cover institutional fees and upkeep, enabling beneficiaries to remain in school and pursue their educational ambitions.
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Reflecting on his educational journey, the President recalled working as a taxi driver and taking up different jobs to finance his studies, including postponing his admission for several months to save enough money.
“When I first arrived in the United States as a young man, I drove a taxi to earn money for my education. I even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough.
“When I eventually got to Chicago, I worked different jobs to support myself and pay my way through university. I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation and how to make ends meet while pursuing an education.
“Those experiences have stayed with me,” he stated.
President Tinubu maintained that education remained central to his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, affirming that the circumstances of a child’s birth should never determine the limits of their ambition.
“I know what education made possible in my own life, and I believe every Nigerian child deserves that same opportunity, regardless of where they are born or what their parents can afford.
“This is one reason education remains a major priority of our Renewed Hope administration,” he noted.
Highlighting progress in technical and vocational education, the President disclosed that the Nigerian Government’s programme had attracted over 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.
He explained that students in federal and selected state technical colleges now enjoyed free tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms as part of efforts to expand access to practical and vocational skills.
On university education, President Tinubu announced that his administration had reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), providing for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to strengthen stability across universities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that students completed their academic programmes within the stipulated period without disruptions.
“A four-year course must take four years. Our young people deserve to complete their education on time and get on with their lives. Promise made, Promise Kept,” the President declared.
Medical Education
On medical education, President Tinubu disclosed that the Nigerian Government was investing ₦110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools to strengthen the country’s capacity to train healthcare professionals.
He revealed that annual nursing enrolment had increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment had risen from 5,000 to 12,000.
“Nigeria needs more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, and we must build the capacity to train them here at home,” he stated.
The President further disclosed that over one million previously out-of-school children had been returned to learning, alongside ongoing investments in teacher development and expanded educational opportunities for girls.
He also highlighted the implementation of a new national curriculum restoring Nigerian History to classrooms, emphasising the importance of national identity and historical consciousness in preparing young Nigerians for future responsibilities.
“Our children must know where we have come from, understand the country they belong to, and be prepared to take responsibility for its future,” he said.
President Tinubu commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and the entire education team for their dedication to implementing the administration’s reforms.
He particularly acknowledged the development of an interactive A–Z of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), designed to provide comprehensive information on reforms, programmes, achievements and opportunities across the education sector.
The President invited Nigerians to visit edu4pbat.ng to explore the initiative and identify available educational opportunities and support programmes.
“If you are a parent, find out what opportunities are available for your children. If you are a student, explore the programmes you can benefit from. If you are a teacher, see what support is available,” he urged.
He also encouraged citizens to provide feedback on challenges affecting educational programmes in their communities, assuring them that such contributions would help the government identify and address implementation gaps.
“And if something is not working as it should in your community, I want to hear about it. Your feedback will help us identify problems and address them,” he said.
President Tinubu reiterated that education remained fundamental to Nigeria’s transition from economic reforms to expanded opportunities and shared prosperity.
“Our journey from reform to opportunities and shared prosperity must begin with education.
“The circumstances of a child’s birth should never determine the limits of their ambition. Our responsibility is to give every Nigerian child a fair chance to fulfil their potential.
“We have more work to do, and I am determined to see it through,” the President affirmed
