…cites NELFUND, TVET, education reforms as major achievements
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance in office will earn him re-election in 2027, citing the administration’s investments in education, skills development and human capital.
Alausa stated this in Abuja on Wednesday during a visit to the City Boy Movement’s office, where he commended Seyi Tinubu and members of the movement for their grassroots mobilisation and engagement with Nigerians from different backgrounds.
The minister maintained that the Federal Government’s reform agenda, particularly in education and vocational training, was creating opportunities for young Nigerians and addressing longstanding challenges to the country’s development.
He said President Tinubu’s policies were guided by a long-term vision that prioritised the welfare and future prospects of younger generations, even when implementing them required difficult decisions.
“President Tinubu makes promises he intends to fulfil. His decisions are not just about today; they are about the future of our children and grandchildren,” Alausa said.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements in the education sector, the minister identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention aimed at expanding access to tertiary education by easing the financial burden on students and their families.
He said the initiative was designed to ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent qualified students from pursuing their academic ambitions.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa also cited the administration’s renewed emphasis on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), disclosing that more than 250,000 Nigerians were benefiting from skills development programmes across approximately 1,200 training centres nationwide.
He said the programmes were equipping beneficiaries with practical skills in areas such as solar photovoltaic installation, fashion and garment production, carpentry, construction trades and animal husbandry.
According to him, the initiative was intended to bridge the gap between education and employment by preparing young Nigerians for opportunities in industry, entrepreneurship and other productive sectors.
The minister stressed that education must go beyond the acquisition of academic certificates to equip learners with the practical competencies required to thrive in the labour market and contribute to national economic growth.
He also highlighted efforts to address infrastructure and accommodation challenges in tertiary institutions, noting that improved facilities were essential to creating conducive learning environments and enhancing the quality of education.
Alausa further pointed to initiatives to expand nursing education and professional training, saying investments in critical skills and human capital development were necessary to strengthen essential sectors of the economy.
He attributed the administration’s reform agenda to Tinubu’s determination to address structural challenges and create greater fiscal space for investment in public services, including education, healthcare and infrastructure.
The minister argued that the impact of the administration’s policies should be assessed against their long-term objectives, particularly their potential to expand opportunities for citizens and strengthen the economy.
He also identified business process outsourcing and the growth of Nigeria’s service economy as emerging opportunities for job creation, expressing optimism that a better-skilled workforce could attract international businesses and provide employment for young people.
On political mobilisation, Alausa commended the City Boy Movement for its grassroots engagement, describing its activities as evidence of collective effort and volunteerism.
He urged members to sustain their outreach to communities and communicate government policies and programmes effectively, while encouraging informed public discussions about the administration’s development agenda.
The minister also cautioned against misinformation and divisive rhetoric, urging Nigerians to prioritise the national interest and engage responsibly in discussions about the country’s future.
He expressed confidence that the administration’s record in education, vocational training and human capital development would remain central to public assessment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Alausa reiterated his commendation of Seyi Tinubu and members of the movement, stressing that grassroots engagement and collective responsibility were important to advancing the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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