Tinubu’s Education Reforms: NELFUND Disburses ₦372.62bn, TVET Enrolment Exceeds 156,000

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has highlighted what it described as significant achievements in Nigeria’s education sector under President Bola Tinubu, citing the disbursement of ₦372.62 billion in student loans, the enrolment of more than 156,000 beneficiaries in technical and vocational education, and the return of over one million out-of-school children to classrooms.

The council said the achievements reflected the administration’s commitment to expanding access to education, improving teachers’ welfare, strengthening technical and vocational training, and addressing longstanding challenges confronting the country’s educational system.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, the reforms were documented in the Federal Ministry of Education’s Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) 2026 report.

The report, the council said, showed that government interventions had extended across basic, secondary and tertiary education, with emphasis on technical and vocational education, science and medical sciences, out-of-school children, girl-child education, digitalisation and education quality assurance.

The campaign council maintained that the interventions were designed to reposition education as a critical instrument for national development, economic productivity and social mobility.

₦372.62 Billion Student Loans

One of the flagship programmes highlighted by the council is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), established to provide financial assistance to students in tertiary institutions and reduce the burden of education costs on families.

According to the statement, NELFUND has processed 1,659,853 student loan applications and disbursed ₦372.62 billion to beneficiaries across 319 tertiary institutions.

The amount comprises ₦192.89 billion for tuition fees and ₦179.73 billion for students’ upkeep allowances.

The council said the programme represented a major intervention in addressing financial barriers to higher education, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The student loan scheme is intended to enable eligible Nigerians pursue tertiary education without being forced to abandon their academic ambitions because of financial difficulties.

The campaign council argued that the programme had expanded opportunities for young Nigerians to access university, polytechnic and other tertiary education.

However, the long-term success of the initiative will depend on its sustainability, transparency, effective administration and ability to reach students who need assistance most.

Government Secures $552 Million For Basic Education

The APC campaign council also cited increased funding for basic education as a major achievement of the administration.

According to the NESRI report, the Federal Government allocated ₦3.52 trillion to education in the 2026 budget and secured $552 million for the HOPE-EDU programme.

The programme is designed to benefit approximately 29 million children, more than 500,000 teachers and 65,000 public schools across the country.

The council said the investment was expected to strengthen foundational learning, improve school infrastructure and enhance the quality of education available to children.

It also highlighted the Basic Education Sector Support programme, which has reportedly returned more than one million out-of-school children to learning.

The initiative has also trained 1,400 Tsangaya teachers and established 200 bilingual learning centres across 17 northern states.

The interventions are particularly significant in addressing educational exclusion in communities where poverty, insecurity, cultural barriers and inadequate infrastructure have contributed to low school enrolment.

The campaign council said the government’s programmes were aimed at ensuring that more Nigerian children could access basic education regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic background.

Girl-Child Education Receives Attention

The administration’s efforts to improve girl-child education were also highlighted in the statement.

Under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), the government has reportedly reached 7.19 million girls, with 3.7 million enrolled in secondary schools.

More than 10,000 schools have also benefited from improved facilities under the programme.

The council said the intervention was aimed at reducing barriers preventing girls from accessing and completing secondary education.

Girl-child education remains a major national concern, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where early marriage, poverty, insecurity and cultural practices have contributed to high rates of school exclusion.

The campaign council maintained that expanding educational opportunities for girls would strengthen household welfare, improve public health outcomes and contribute to national development.

Curriculum Reform And Teacher Professionalisation

The Tinubu administration has also introduced curriculum reforms intended to improve the quality and relevance of education.

According to the statement, the revised national curriculum has reintroduced Nigerian History and strengthened Civic and Heritage Studies.

The National Learning Assessment has also been restored to monitor pupils’ academic performance and identify learning gaps.

The council said the reforms were designed to strengthen foundational knowledge, promote national identity and ensure that Nigerian students acquire the skills and understanding required for contemporary society.

Teacher development is another major component of the administration’s education programme.

Under the EduRevamp initiative, 53,553 teachers have registered, while 51,794 participated in the first cohort of the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP).

The six-month programme provides professional qualifications, certification and licensing for participating teachers.

Backed by ₦2 billion, the initiative is targeting 250,000 teachers by 2027.

The APC campaign council said the programme was expected to strengthen teaching standards and improve classroom performance through better-trained and professionally certified educators.

The administration has also introduced Inspire Live, an online learning initiative providing lessons from Primary One to Senior Secondary School Three.

The platform combines lessons delivered by certified teachers with artificial intelligence-assisted learning tools.

The initiative is intended to expand access to educational resources, particularly for pupils in underserved communities and schools with limited teaching facilities.

TVET Programme Attracts More Than 2.8 Million Applications

The campaign council described the expansion of technical and vocational education as one of the administration’s most important interventions in addressing youth unemployment and strengthening Nigeria’s skills base.

According to the statement, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme has attracted more than 2.8 million applications.

Of this number, 156,446 verified trainees have received free training, monthly stipends and start-up support.

The government has reportedly disbursed more than ₦65.7 billion directly to trainees, while an additional ₦30.2 billion has gone to training centres.

The council said the programme was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills that could enable them to secure employment, establish businesses or contribute to industrial development.

The Federal Government has also rehabilitated 38 technical colleges and introduced free technical education covering tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.

The expansion of TVET is particularly relevant to Nigeria’s industrialisation ambitions, as manufacturers and other businesses continue to require skilled technicians, artisans, engineers and specialised workers.

The council said the initiative was intended to strengthen the connection between education and the labour market by equipping young people with skills relevant to the economy.

ASUU Agreement, Staff Welfare

The APC Presidential Campaign Council also highlighted developments in industrial relations within tertiary institutions.

It said the Tinubu administration had resolved the longstanding dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while implementing an agreement that included a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and improved welfare benefits.

The council argued that the resolution of the dispute and the improved welfare package were important steps towards stabilising the academic calendar and reducing disruptions to university education.

Frequent strikes by university lecturers have historically disrupted academic activities, delayed graduation and increased uncertainty for students and their families.

The administration’s interventions, according to the council, were aimed at creating a more stable environment for teaching, learning and research.

The Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund has also reportedly disbursed ₦28 billion to 15,000 workers across 153 public institutions.

Eligible staff can access loans of up to ₦10 million for housing, healthcare, transportation and education.

The council said the scheme was designed to improve the welfare and financial stability of employees in public tertiary institutions.

₦110 Billion For Medical And STEM Education

The administration is also investing in medical, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical sciences education.

According to the statement, the Federal Government is committing ₦110 billion to the rehabilitation of 18 federal medical schools across the six geopolitical zones.

The initiative is expected to improve infrastructure, enhance training facilities and strengthen the capacity of medical institutions to produce qualified healthcare professionals.

The campaign council also reported that nursing enrolment increased from 81,480 in 2023 to 114,300 in 2025.

In addition, 20 STEM-focused tertiary institutions have been approved, while 12 engineering and technology faculties are targeted for rehabilitation.

The council said these investments were intended to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital and expand the country’s capacity to produce professionals in critical sectors.

The development comes amid growing concerns about the migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals and the need to improve the country’s medical training infrastructure.

Research, Innovation And Student Entrepreneurship

Beyond conventional academic programmes, the government has introduced initiatives to support research, innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

The statement said the Federal Government provides ₦365 million annually for research and innovation through the National Laureate Prize.

The Student Venture Capital Grant has also disbursed more than ₦2.5 billion to 45 student entrepreneurs.

Each beneficiary can access up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding to develop innovative business ideas.

The council said the initiative was aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to transform academic knowledge into viable businesses and employment-generating ventures.

Entrepreneurship certification is also ongoing in 14 federal universities.

Meanwhile, the Diaspora BRIDGE initiative has registered 1,141 Nigerian experts living abroad and reached 16,675 students across 107 tertiary institutions.

The programme is expected to strengthen collaboration between Nigerian institutions and professionals in the diaspora, particularly in research, technology, innovation and academic development.

‘Success Must Be Measured By Impact’

Speaking on the reforms, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the success of the administration’s education initiatives should be measured by their impact on students, teachers and institutions rather than the volume of money allocated or the number of programmes introduced.

“Our measure of success is not merely the amount of money allocated to education or the number of programmes introduced. It is the difference these interventions make in the lives of our children, students, teachers and institutions,” Alausa said.

The minister’s position underscores the government’s emphasis on translating policy interventions into tangible improvements in educational outcomes.

For millions of Nigerian students and families, the critical questions remain whether access to education will become more affordable, classrooms better equipped, teachers more effective and graduates more employable.

The campaign council maintained that the reforms had laid a foundation for addressing these challenges and repositioning education as a driver of national development.

Education As An Investment In Nigeria’s Future

The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the achievements highlighted in the NESRI 2026 report demonstrated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening education at every level.

It argued that the combination of student loans, technical education, basic education funding, teacher professionalisation, medical training, research support and digital learning represented a comprehensive approach to reforming the sector.

The reforms, according to the council, are expected to improve access to education, expand opportunities for young people and strengthen the skills required for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Nevertheless, the ultimate assessment of the programmes will depend on their sustained implementation, accountability and measurable outcomes.

For a country with a large youthful population and persistent educational challenges, the ability to translate funding and policy commitments into improved literacy, stronger learning outcomes, employable skills and stable academic institutions will remain central to determining the long-term impact of the reforms.

The campaign council said the administration would continue to prioritise education as a foundation for national development and economic prosperity.