President Bola Tinubu has linked his own struggle as a student to his government’s education agenda. In a statement on his X account on Wednesday, he recalled his early days in the United States. He said he “drove a taxi to earn money for my education” and even delayed starting school to save enough. Consequently, he argued, every Nigerian child deserves the same chance, whatever their parents can afford.
Tinubu then described how he worked different jobs in Chicago to pay his way through university. He said those years taught him what it means to worry about tuition and accommodation. Moreover, he said education remains a major priority of his Renewed Hope administration.
He began his list of achievements with student loans. According to the President, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided over ₦372 billion for institutional fees and upkeep. Presidency-linked figures give more detail. They say NELFUND has processed 1,659,853 applications and disbursed ₦372.62 billion across 319 tertiary institutions. Of that sum, ₦192.89 billion covered tuition, while ₦179.73 billion went to upkeep.
Technical education also featured prominently. Tinubu said the technical and vocational programme has attracted more than 2.8 million applications. He added that the government has rehabilitated 38 technical colleges. In addition, students in federal and selected state technical colleges now enjoy free school fees, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
The President then turned to universities. He said the government has reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which includes a 40 per cent increase in academic staff pay. Furthermore, he promised steadier campuses. “A four-year course must take four years,” he declared. However, the road has not been smooth. Earlier this year, some lecturers told reporters they had not yet received the raise, even after the Federal Government said implementation had begun.
Medical training received a boost as well. Tinubu said the government is investing ₦110 billion to rehabilitate 24 medical schools. He also said annual nursing enrolment has risen from 28,000 to 115,000. Meanwhile, medical and dental enrolment has grown from 5,000 to 12,000. He stressed that Nigeria must train more doctors and nurses at home.
At the basic level, Tinubu said more than one million children who had been out of school have returned to learning. He also pointed to teacher development and wider opportunities for girls. In addition, the government has introduced a new national curriculum that restores Nigerian History to classrooms. He said children must know where the country has come from and must prepare to shape its future.
Tinubu also praised Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad and their team. He highlighted an interactive A–Z guide to the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which lists reforms, programmes and opportunities. He invited Nigerians to explore it at edu4pbat.ng. Notably, he asked citizens to report problems in their communities. He said that feedback will help the government identify and fix weaknesses.
Supporters of the administration welcomed the message. The APC Presidential Campaign Council, for example, said the 2026 budget allocated a record ₦3.52 trillion to education. It also cited $552 million secured for the HOPE-EDU programme for basic education. Even so, critics often question whether the figures translate into better classrooms and fairer access. Parents and students will judge the results by what they experience on campus and in school.
Tinubu closed on a hopeful note. “Our journey from reform to opportunities and shared prosperity must begin with education,” he said. He added that more work remains and that he is determined to see it through. Ultimately, the coming months will show whether these promises reach every Nigerian child.
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