…warns Nigeria cannot compete globally with underfunded universities
…highlights mechanised farming, AI training, medical grants as new priorities
…Zulum, Fintiri announce scholarships, ₦1.8bn regional donation as UNIMAID marks 50 years
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday said the improved investment in Nigeria’s education sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflects a renewed national vigour to reposition the country within the global knowledge economy.
Speaking in Maiduguri at the 50th anniversary of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the Vice President warned that Nigeria cannot compete globally if its universities remain underfunded, describing education as a “national immune system” and the most reliable vehicle for economic mobility and development.
In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha Shettima said, “today, there is a shared national understanding that education is the most reliable vehicle to development.
“It fuels economic mobility, lifts families out of poverty, strengthens social cohesion, deepens democratic culture, and fortifies national security,” Shettima said.
He noted that President Tinubu’s administration has backed this philosophy with increased funding and targeted reforms.
According to him, the 2025 Budget allocates ₦3.5 trillion to education—7.3 per cent of total expenditure and an increase from the previous year.
“For the first time in many years, our universities are being supported to develop mechanised farming programmes. Grants have been introduced to strengthen medical education, and entrepreneurial initiatives have been expanded to equip students for the realities of a modern economy,” he added.
The Vice President said the administration is preparing Nigerian youths “not with the tools of yesterday, but with the skills of tomorrow,” citing new investments in AI training, curriculum reforms, digital transformation and research development.
Shettima acknowledged, however, that decades of underfunding, brain drain, outdated curricula, inadequate research support, frequent strikes and high student-to-teacher ratios continue to weaken the system.
While international benchmarks recommend 15–20 per cent of national budgets for education, he said Nigeria has struggled due to competing needs in security, health and infrastructure.
He also reflected on the devastating impact of insecurity on learning in the Northeast, noting that over 500 schools were attacked in Borno between 2009 and 2021.
Yet, the state has mounted a recovery: by March 2025, 877,777 learners were enrolled in public schools, ₦69.81 billion was devoted to education, and over 26,000 students had their WAEC fees paid. Daily school feeding now costs about ₦122 million.
“When terrorists attacked our schools, they were trying to kill the future. But Borno chose hope over fear and education over darkness,” Shettima said.
He stressed that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places education at the centre of national rebirth, linking it to job creation, poverty reduction, democratic stability and national security.
“National development is impossible without skilled citizens and leaders of integrity,” he stated.
Describing UNIMAID as a “lighthouse in the Sahel,” Shettima traced the university’s origins to Nigeria’s Third National Development Plan (1975–1980), saying its resilience in the face of insurgency embodies the country’s belief in development through knowledge.
Earlier, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum announced scholarships for 200 UNIMAID lecturers for further studies, praising the institution’s decades-long role in human capital development.
Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri also announced a ₦1.8 billion donation on behalf of North-East states to support the university’s endowment fund.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohammed Mele described the golden jubilee as a celebration of resilience, noting the institution’s survival despite years of conflict.
He appealed for greater private-sector support to complement government funding.
Dignitaries at the event included former Vice President Babagana Kingibe, Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, Emir of Lafia and Pro-Chancellor Justice Sidi Bage, Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, business leaders Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi and Sir Emeka Offor, and federal lawmakers from Borno State.