President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, education will always be a “major priority” of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
He made known his belief that, every Nigerian child deserves the “opportunity” to education, regardless of who they are.
Via X, the President said, for him to pay for his education in the United States (US) as a young man, he had to drive a taxi to make some money; he further said, he had to “postpone” starting his education for several months “to save enough”.
He continued, in the city of Chicago, he did “different” jobs to be able to financially support himself through University.
Tinubu said, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), over “₦372 billion” have been provided in student loans, which has been helpful in keeping young Nigerians in school.
President Tinubu said: “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.
“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.
“Through NELFUND, we have provided over ₦372 billion in student loans for institutional fees and upkeep, helping young Nigerians remain in school and pursue their education.”
Tinubu said, his government has renovated “38” technical colleges, adding, students from different technical colleges now benefit from “free school fees”.
He made known, his administration has struck an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of a “40%” increase in the renumeration of academic staff; and promised, “a four-year course must take four years”.
President Tinubu said: “Our technical and vocational education programme has attracted over 2.8 million applications. We have rehabilitated 38 technical colleges, while students in federal and selected state technical colleges now benefit from free school fees, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
“We have reached a new agreement with ASUU, providing for a 40% increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to improve stability in our universities.
“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 announced, his administration is making an investment of “₦110 billion” for the rehabilitation of “24” medical schools to help bolster medical education.
Yearly enrollment into Nursing has heightened from “28,000 to 115,000”. He said, the country is in need of more doctors, as well as, other healthcare professionals, adding, more than “one million” out-of-school children have been returned to school.
President Tinubu said: “In medical education, we are investing ₦110 billion in rehabilitating 24 medical schools. Annual nursing enrolment has increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment has 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.
“Over one million children who were previously out of school have been returned to learning. We are investing in teacher development, expanding educational opportunities for girls, and implementing a new national curriculum that restores Nigerian History to our classrooms.”
Tinubu explained, he is making these moves to help Nigerian children gain understanding of the country “they belong to” and how to take control of its future.
He thanked Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, for his “dedication” towards the progress of education in Nigeria.
The President said: “Our children must know where we have come from, understand the country they belong to, and be prepared to take responsibility for its future.
“I commend the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa @DrTunjiAlausa, the Minister of State, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad @Suwaiba_Said, and the entire education team @NigEducation for their dedication to this important work.”
