President Bola Tinubu has revealed how working as a taxi driver and taking on multiple jobs in the United States informed his administration’s commitment to expanding educational access across Nigeria.
In a detailed statement shared on his official X handle on Wednesday, President Tinubu recalled having to postpone starting university for several months to save money after arriving in the U.S. as a young man.
“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,” Tinubu wrote. “When I eventually got to Chicago, I worked different jobs to support myself… I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation, and how to make ends meet.”
The President emphasized that these personal experiences drive his administration’s major educational reforms, highlighting key achievements and figures:
Student Financial Aid (NELFUND): Over N372 billion disbursed in interest-free loans covering institutional charges and monthly upkeep for public tertiary students.
ASUU Agreement: Negotiated a 40% increase in academic staff remuneration and pledged an end to university strikes. “A four-year course must take four years… Promise made, promise kept,” he stated.
Health & Medical Training: A N110 billion investment to rehabilitate 24 medical schools, raising annual nursing enrolment from 28,000 to 115,000 and medical/dental enrolment from 5,000 to 12,000.
Vocational & Technical Education: Over 2.8 million applications received, 38 technical colleges rehabilitated, with free tuition, boarding, textbooks, and uniforms provided at selected colleges.
Basic Education & Curriculum: Over 1 million out-of-school children returned to learning, alongside a revamped curriculum restoring Nigerian History to primary and secondary classrooms.
President Tinubu also announced the launch of an interactive platform, edu4pbat.ng, designed for students, parents, and teachers to explore opportunities and provide direct feedback on community educational challenges.
