President Bola Tinubu has recounted how he worked as a taxi driver and took up other jobs in the United States to finance his university education, saying the experience shaped his commitment to expanding access to education in Nigeria.
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Key Highlights
- Tinubu says he drove a taxi and postponed school for months to save for his education in the US.
- He says NELFUND has provided more than ₦372bn in student loans.
- The TVET programme drew over 2.8 million applications; 38 technical colleges have been rehabilitated.
- A new ASUU agreement provides a 40 percent increase in academic staff pay, he said.
- Nigerians are urged to visit edu4pbat.ng, the new NESRI A–Z platform, and give feedback.
Tinubu said he had to postpone starting school for several months after arriving in the US to save enough money to support his studies.
The president disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, while highlighting his administration’s education policies and achievements.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Student loans, technical colleges and ASUU deal
Tinubu said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided more than ₦372bn in student loans to cover institutional fees and upkeep allowances.
The president also said the federal government’s technical and vocational education programme had attracted more than 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.
According to him, students in federal and selected state technical colleges now benefit from free tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
On university education, Tinubu said his administration has reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), providing for a 40 percent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures aimed at improving stability in the university system.
He stressed the need for students to complete their academic programmes without unnecessary delays.
“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,” he said.
Medical schools, nursing enrolment
Tinubu further disclosed that his administration is investing ₦110bn in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools to strengthen medical education.
He said annual nursing enrolment had increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment had 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,” he added.
The president also said more than one million children who were previously out of school have returned to learning, while his administration is investing in teacher development and expanding educational opportunities for girls.
He said a new national curriculum is being implemented to restore Nigerian history to classrooms, stressing the importance of helping children understand the country’s past and prepare for its future.
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New NESRI platform
Tinubu commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and other members of the education team for their contributions to the reforms.
He also announced an interactive A–Z platform for the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), designed to bring together information on government reforms, programmes, achievements and opportunities across the education sector.
The president urged Nigerians to visit edu4pbat.ng to explore the initiative and provide feedback on challenges affecting education in their communities.
“If you are a parent, find out what opportunities are available for your children. If you are a student, explore the programmes you can benefit from. If you are a teacher, see what support is available.
“And if something is not working as it should in your community, I want to hear about it. Your feedback will help us identify problems and address them,” he said.
He added that a child’s circumstances at birth should not determine the limits of their ambition, insisting that every Nigerian child deserved a fair opportunity to fulfil their potential.
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