Two years ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his swearing in, highlighted his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of students and members of the basic and tertiary education unions through various initiatives that promote education and stability in the sector. Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON reviews the programmes initiated so far and discovers that they are repositioning the education sector and tackling the age-long restiveness in tertiary institutions.
An educated society is crucial for economic growth. It is one where a significant portion of the population has access to and participates in formal education, leading to increased knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities. This, in turn, benefits individuals and the broader community through economic stability, reduced crime, and greater social order. An educated society is also more likely to be innovative, technologically advanced, and capable of making informed decisions in various aspects of life. It is then not out of place that countries with higher literacy rates, according to experts, also tend to be in better economic and social order. With a more educated population, better behavioural dispositions and more employment opportunities are opened as citizens keep learning and researching to constantly stay innovative.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must have had this in his mind when he highlighted his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly students and youths, through initiatives that promote education. He had also reiterated his administration’s commitment to repositioning the education sector and tackling the age-long restiveness in tertiary institutions.
Last year, the President said the sector would get a comprehensive four-year strategic plan, serving as a roadmap for development. This, he said, would not only tackle the challenges confronting the sector but also shape the future of education in the country.
To enhance efficient delivery, the President zeroed in on provision of verifiable and authentic statistics on all aspects of the education sector to tackle lack of infrastructural growth and enhance development and retain manpower, confront paucity of funds in the sector and restiveness, provide loans to students, create harmonious environment and stability in the sector and deliver on agreements inked with tertiary institutions’ unions.
DOTS Project
Lack of adequate data on Nigeria’s education sector had been an anathema for a long time. Data repository to address the paucity of coordinated, verifiable and authentic statistics on all aspects of the education sector in Nigeria is consequently very important.
It was, therefore, not out of place when President Tinubu, as part of his eight-point agenda, decided to prioritise education by giving approval to the Federal Ministry of Education for a project called DOTS, an acronym for Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition.
This is aimed at ensuring an overhaul of the sector for improved learning and skill development, increase enrolment, and ensure the academic security of children.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the introduction of the DOTS, an initiative designed to revamp Nigeria’s education system and equip citizens with the skills needed for global competitiveness.
Worried by the increasing number of out-of-school children, President Tinubu approved the commencement of the DOTS project to overhaul the education sector, increase enrolment and ensure the academic security of the children.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, made the disclosure in Shabu, a suburb of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, while siultaneously performing the foundation laying of the National Examinations Council offices of Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Lagos, and River states.
The minister narrated that DOTS was to tackle the paucity of coordinated, verifiable, and authentic data in the sector.
Sununu said the new initiative would enable the Federal Government to track the progress of students, thus, having a clear data-driven mechanism for interventions, especially on out-of-school children, girls, and those with specific learning disabilities, among others.
He said: “Out-of-school children represents a major thematic area in the eight points agenda of President Bola Tinubu, with priority focus on social welfare, health and education.
“Mr. President is of the believe that the over 20 million out-of-school children we have now represents a group of Nigerians that we have to pay attention to, otherwise miscreants can use them to cause and foment trouble in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu also believes that for Nigeria to develop and continue to take its rightful position in the comity of nations, those in the group of over 20 million citizens must be returned back to school, and ensure that they get proper education and the necessary skills to make them self-efficient and relevant in the society,” the minister added.
Also speaking on DOTS, the Minister for Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, said the programme aimed to address critical gaps in the system, particularly in technical and vocational education.
“We plan to have Technical Educational Vocational Training (TEVT) under this programme. We will sensitise young Nigerians, encouraging them to pursue technical and vocational training. Substantial funding will be provided to schools and vocational centers to train these students, ensuring they acquire the skills they need,” he said.
Student Loan Act 2024 gathers more steam
The Student Loan Act 2024 is a signature programme of President Tinubu to enhance students’ education completion rate. It aims at making education accessible to all.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) funding sources include a percentage of taxes, levies, and duties from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, and Nigerian Customs Service, along with contributions from government profits, education bonds, endowment fund schemes, and donations.
Repayment of the student loan begins two years after completing the NYSC programme, with 10% of the beneficiary’s salary automatically deducted.
Despite mixed reactions from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and students across Nigeria, NELFUND has disbursed N54.2 billion in loans across the country as at May 3, 2025. This disbursement covers institutional fees and upkeep stipends for students.
A portion of the disbursement, N20.07 billion, was specifically allocated for institutional fees, benefiting 192,906 students across tertiary institutions. Another portion, N12.82 billion, was allocated as upkeep stipends to 169,114 students, each receiving a monthly stipend of N20,000. A total of 299 institutions have benefited from the funds released, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
NELFUND said the expansion of its loan programme to vocational skills centres across the country would commence in six to eight weeks. Its Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, explained that the vocational training support through loans, was aimed at helping individuals access technical education at various skill centres, including fashion design and other skills.
Speaking at a strategic engagement and sensitisation campaign on operations of NELFUND in Enugu State, Sawyerr disclosed that Enugu was pencilled down as one of the states to kick-off the skills acquisition and vocational training support.
He said: “We are working on it now, and we’re going to have some discussions with the executive governor and his team, because we want to start it here.
“The president has also instructed that we focus on areas where the governments or the institutions of state and instruments are ready to work with us, so that we can have a quick takeoff. I think that within the next six to eight weeks, you will see us kick something off.”
NELFund is also considering extending its student loan scheme to private institutions in 2028.
While stressing the priority to address the needs of students in public universities and colleges first, Sawyerr said the long-term objective was to provide financial support to Nigerian students, regardless of the type of institution they attend.
TETFund will remain, by Alausa
After the take-off of students’ loan, stakeholders said agencies like Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would have to go.
But, Alausa has said the TETFund remains a cornerstone of development in the nation’s tertiary institutions. He assured Nigerians that the agency would not be scrapped through the Tax Reform Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Alausa, who spoke in Lagos at a strategic engagement with Heads of Institutions, Bursars, and Heads of Procurement of Beneficiary Institutions organised by TETFund, announced that President Tinubu had approved more funding for the agency with 50 per cent development levy inclusive.
Alausa said: “TETFund’s unwavering efforts in improving access, infrastructure and academic capacity across the nation’s tertiary education landscape deserve commendation.
“TETFund will continue into eternity. The President has worked with the National Assembly on various amendments to the tax law.
“The fund has saved our tertiary institutions. If they maximise the funds they get effectively, they will be able to compete with other global institutions. It has remained a cornerstone in the nation’s tertiary institutions.”
ASUU’s outstanding issues
Before the coming on board of President Tinubu’s administration, the university and polytechnic campuses were faced by one strike or the other for months. The President promised to meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to address the demands of the university teachers and other unions.
Some of the issues at stake, according to ASUU, include: Conclusion of the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU Agreement based on Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021; Release of withheld three-and-half months salaries on account of the 2022 strike action; Release of unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct appointments owing to the application of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (1PPIS); Release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions; Funding for revitalisation of public universities (partly captured in 2023 Federal Government’s Budget) and the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) (partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government’s Budget).
Others are: proliferation of universities by Federal and state governments; Implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities; and University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS.
To tackle the lingering crisis, the Federal Government re-established a seven-member renegotiation committee to address the 2009 agreements with university-based unions.
The committee brings together representatives from ASUU and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The government said the move was aimed at improving the education system and maintaining peace on campuses. It noted that renegotiations began in 2017 but were delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
He said the previous committee, led by Prof. Nimi Briggs, produced a draft report covering some areas.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, also said incessant strikes by lecturers, under the aegis of ASUU, would be a thing of the past under Tinubu-led administration.
He called on ASUU leadership to always embrace dialogue instead of resorting to strikes.
Alausa appealed to labour unions to prioritise education over strike for the good of students. He said industrial action should not be the first option in seeking the government’s attention to the unions’ demands.
Fed Govt releases N50b earned academic allowance
The Federal Government had released N50 billion to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for the settlement of their earned allowances as promised by President Bola Tinubu.
The government and the ASUU engaged in prolonged negotiations over the payment of earned academic allowances to lecturers.
The allowances were part of agreements stemming from the 2009 Federal Government-ASUU pact.
Although the government pledged to release the funds and shift future payment responsibilities to university governing councils, implementation was delayed.
However, in a statement by the Ministry of Education spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade, the minister was quoted as saying the intervention was not just a financial transaction, but reaffirmation of the President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them.
New school curriculum launched
The Federal Ministry of Education has also launched a new school curriculum.
Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who announced that a new school curriculum wouldtake effect, disclosed this to State House correspondents after President Bola Tinubu presided over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the new curriculum is aimed at primary and secondary schools. It is designed to address the ongoing concerns surrounding the behaviour and values of young Nigerians.
Out-of-school children and learning poverty
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), decrying the increase in cases of out-of-school children in Nigeria, stated that it was now 18.3 million.
UNICEF noted that this alarming figure positioned Nigeria as the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.
The number of out-of-school children (OOSC) is constantly growing, rising from about 10.5 million in 2013 to about 18.3 million in 2024, despite efforts to address the situation.
To address this challenge, UNICEF is collaborating with the Universal Basic Education Commission to develop the “National Framework of Action to Reduce the Number of Out-of-School Children in Nigeria” and the “Retention, Transition, and Completion Model”.
Also, with six years remaining before the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target date of 2030, Nigeria is among the many nations grappling with the task of achieving SDG 4—quality education for all.
According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), 250 million children worldwide still lack access to good education.
In Nigeria, where children are in school, statistics indicate that they are often faced with learning poverty, a measure of children’s inability to read and understand a simple text by age 10, the World Bank and UNESCO stated.
The 2022 UNICEF report on the State of Global Learning Poverty gives a grim picture of the increasing number of out-of-school children and of declining education systems, learning content and teaching methods. The report claims that 56 per cent of children worldwide were suffering from learning poverty before COVID-19 hit—a staggering 89 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa—and this figure is predicted to have skyrocketed since the pandemic.
The Federal and state government have released programmes to tackle the challenge.
Fed Govt approves N80b for infrastructure upgrades in unity schools, others
The Federal Government had approved N80 billion for infrastructure upgrades in unity schools this year.
This includes N40 billion for rehabilitation, N20 billion for security, fencing, and access control, as well as N20 billion for solar energy.
Alausa disclosed this to journalists after he delivered the 2025 Convocation Lecture of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, titled, Patriotism, Citizenship and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to comprehensive educational reform and national development under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“This is unprecedented. No administration in our history has committed this much to our unity schools,” he stated.
On key initiatives, Alausa outlined ongoing and future projects aimed at revitalising the sector and creating opportunities, especially for youths.
He noted that the Ministry of Education was to launch a youth venture capital grant of up to N10 million for student entrepreneurs and an additional single-digit interest loans through the Bank of Industry (BoI).
“This is a government focused on creating opportunities for young Nigerians,” the minister stated.
Since assuming office, the administration has established 21 new universities.
However, Alausa noted the funding and infrastructure gaps, saying the government was conducting a needs assessment, committing N70 billion from TETFund to upgrade 18 medical schools, constructing six simulation labs for health training institutions at N40 billion, as well as planning to realign tertiary education with labour market needs.
Addressing brain drain, he listed efforts to double the enrollment in medical and nursing programmes, with admissions rising from 28,000 to nearly 100,000 annually.
“We are working to produce more professionals in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other key areas to meet both local and global demand,” he said.
Ministry expands UBE framework to strengthen childhood components
Alausa also said the ministry was expanding UBE counterpart funding and framework to strengthen early childhood education components. The minister made the disclosure while delivering a keynote address during a stakeholders meeting in Bauchi.
Alausa, who was represented by the Director, Basic Education, Mrs. Carisa Eyo, said the ministry was facilitating technical support, capacity building and monitoring systems. He pointed out that the ministry was partnering with development agencies to support state-led models of the programme.
Upgrade of 38 technical colleges
Alausa announced the upgrade of 38 federal and state technical colleges across Nigeria as part of comprehensive reforms to equip young Nigerians with globally competitive skills.
He said the upgrades were part of a broader effort to reposition the education sector for a skill-based and knowledge-driven economy.
The engagement session focused on strategic priorities, unveiling of key initiatives, and addressing persistent challenges, particularly the high number of out-of-school children.
Alausa outlined six core priority areas under the ministry’s reform agenda, including reducing the number of out-of-school girls, enhancing quality assurance, and improving access through targeted national programs.
He also highlighted the introduction of a dual-training model in the upgraded technical colleges, where students will now spend 80% of their time on hands-on training and 20% in the classroom — a shift designed to better prepare them for real-world job markets.
New Federal varsities established
In the past few months, several new federal universities have been established or approved in Nigeria. These include the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Iragbiji, Osun State, the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) in Ogoni, Rivers State, and the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State.
Additionally, some existing institutions have been converted into federal universities, such as Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.
The Federal Government has expressed opposition to the proposals by the National Assembly for creation of nearly 200 new universities in the country.
It said with almost 200 bills in the National Assembly for establishment of new universities, there is a growing concern that the system is becoming overwhelmed.
Teachers employment
The Federal Government has initiated plans to employment of 2,000 teachers per state annually to address shortage of teachers in the country.
About 74,000 teachers are targetted in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the Ministry of Education, the government had considered December 2024 as deadline for the implementation of the policy.
This was disclosed in a roadmap of the ministry. Recently, media reports had indicated that 18 states failed to recruit teachers in five years.
The Universal Basic Education Commission had also lamented the shortage of teachers in public schools.
To combat the shortage, the Ministry of Education’s roadmap stated, “states to recruit minimum of 2,000 qualified teachers and certified by the TRCN annually; the Minister of State for Education to meet with the state governors and get their buy in.”
N100b solar mini-grids for UCH, UNILAG, others
The Federal Government had also allocated N100 billion in the 2025 budget to provide solar mini-grids in selected government institutions, federal universities and their teaching hospitals.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said his agency would provide reliable, cost-effective and climate-friendly power supply in the government institutions.
Aliyu said the funding for the project would come under the National Public Sector Solarisation Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Power.
It’s “a new concept designed to reduce the cost of governance. N100bn has been allocated for it. We are going to use that funding to solarise the entire public institutions,” he said.
JAMB and 2025 UTME
The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has overhauled the operation of the board and removed its opacity.
But, the glitch that trailed this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) induced controversies. Its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that 379,997 candidates were affected—206,610 across 65 centres in Lagos and 173,387 in 92 centres in the South-East.
However, he has dismissed speculations that the technical glitch recorded in the 2025 was part of a conspiracy against some parts of the country.
Oloyede dismissed the speculations at a meeting with the management of the board ahead of the release of results of the rescheduled UTME examination yesterday.
He stated further that the death of a candidate as a result of the examination was regrettable, noting that the meeting observes a minute silence in honour of the student.
The statement comes following calls from some quarters, particularly lawmakers from the South-East zone, for Oloyede’s resignation over the technical glitch that affected over 300,000 students.
Stakeholders react
A Nigerian academic, author, and the third vice chancellor of Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State Prof. Kayode Soremekun, said the Tinubu administration has done a lot in the area of education.
“This is at what I can call the quantitative level. So many institutions have been put in place at the tertiary level, and to that extent, this is very good.
“But the next step should now be taken, i.e., to raise the quality of education in these tertiary institutions. He has taken the first step, which is significant, which is also positive. The next thing for him to do is to take the next step.
“We’re talking of two years. We’re hoping that in the next two years, more will have been done.”
Supporters hail Tinubu’s performance in education
National President of Tinubu Young Generation Forum, Prince Kevin Timothy, in a statement by the forum’s chief press secretary, Mr. Taiwo Akindolu, said President Tinubu’s tenure has been characterised by a profound commitment to empowering the youth and addressing the socio-economic challenges that have long hindered their progress.
“One of the hallmark achievements of President Tinubu’s administration is the establishment of NELFUND, a bold initiative to provide accessible financial support to students.
“This programme has opened doors of opportunity for countless young Nigerians, enabling them to pursue their educational aspirations without financial constraints.
“The Skill Acquisition Programmes launched under President Tinubu’s leadership have equipped young Nigerians with the necessary skills and competencies to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market. These programmes have enhanced employability and fostered entrepreneurship and self-reliance among the youth,” he said.
He added that the recent introduction of the Free Education programme in 33 Federal Science and Technical Colleges across the country is a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to investing in the future of Nigeria’s youth.
“The provision of free tuition, feeding, accommodation, and monthly stipends has removed significant barriers to quality education, empowering students to focus on their academic pursuits without undue hardship,” he said.
NANS hails inclusion of private institution students
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyer, over the inclusion of students from private institutions in the loan scheme.
A statement by NANS National Director of Private Institutions Students, Emmanuel Segun Amos, stated that the initiative will help ensure equal access to education for all Nigerian students.
The students’ association, however, called on NELFUND to expedite the implementation process to ensure that private institution students can benefit from the loan scheme without undue delays.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), through the office of the National Director of Private Institutions Affairs, has taken note of a statement credited to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, where he hinted that the student loan scheme might be extended to private institutions.
“We applaud this initiative and regard it as a positive step toward ensuring equal access to education for all Nigerian students, regardless of their institution type. Furthermore, we strongly believe this initiative will alleviate the financial burdens on students and promote academic excellence across Nigeria.”
CONUA warns against attempt to subvert noble scheme
One of the universities that supported the student loan scheme, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) described the attempt to subvert noble schemeas disheartening, adding that while the government wants to improve equity and access to education, some academic managers are reportedly undermining these efforts for personal gain.
Its President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said the union finds it disappointing that the government has yet to publicly name and shame the institutions and individuals involved, stressing that in a country where impunity continues to undermine national development, exposure of wrongdoing serves as both a deterrent to potential offenders and a necessary punishment for those already complicit.
