President Bola Tinubu recounted his early years in the United States, where he drove a taxi and performed a range of jobs to finance his university studies, and tied those personal hardships to his current drive to broaden affordable education for all Nigerians.
How did Tinubu fund his education?
He explained that after arriving in the U.S., he had to delay his enrolment for several months while saving enough money for tuition and living costs. Once in Chicago, he took on multiple jobs, from taxi‑driving to other odd‑labour, to cover accommodation, fees and daily expenses. "I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation and how to make ends meet while pursuing an education," he said.
What reforms has his administration introduced?
Tinubu highlighted several initiatives under the Renewed Hope agenda. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over N372 billion in student loans, allowing countless learners to stay in school. On technical and vocational training, more than 2.8 million applications have been received and 38 technical colleges have been rehabilitated, with free fees, boarding, textbooks and uniforms now offered in federal and selected state institutions. A fresh agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) secures a 40 percent rise in academic staff salaries and measures aimed at stabilising university operations. The government is also investing N110 billion to refurbish 24 medical schools; nursing enrolment has risen from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolments have climbed from 5,000 to 12,000.
What are the reported outcomes?
According to Tinubu, more than one million children who were previously out of school have returned to classrooms. The administration is boosting teacher development, expanding opportunities for girls, and rolling out a new national curriculum that reinstates Nigerian History to ensure students understand their heritage. An interactive A‑Z of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) has been launched, consolidating reforms, programmes and opportunities. He urged citizens to visit edu4pbat.ng to explore options, give feedback and help identify challenges facing schools and communities.
"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," Tinubu asserted, praising the efforts of the Ministry of Education, its minister Dr Tunji Alausa, and the education team.
He concluded by stressing that a child’s birthplace should never limit ambition, and reaffirmed his commitment to see the education agenda through to full implementation.