President Bola Tinubu has said he worked as a taxi driver and took up different jobs in the United States to fund his university education.

Mr Tinubu, who stated this in a statement on Wednesday, said his experiences inspired his administration’s commitment to expanding access to education in Nigeria.

“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.

“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,” the President said.

Mr Tinubu, who highlighted the achievements of his administration in the education sector, noted that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had provided over N372bn in student loans to cover institutional fees and upkeep.

He added, “Through NELFUND, we have provided over ₦372 billion in student loans for institutional fees and upkeep, helping young Nigerians remain in school and pursue their education.

“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.”

Mr Tinubu added that over one million children who were previously out of school had been returned to learning, emphasising his administration’s investment in teacher development, expanding educational opportunities for girls, and implementing a new national curriculum that restores Nigerian History to classrooms.

“Our children must know where we have come from, understand the country they belong to, and be prepared to take responsibility for its future,” the President added.

He stated that his administration was investing N110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools to strengthen medical education in the country.

According to him, annual nursing enrolment increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment rose 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,” Mr Tinubu added. 

The President urged Nigerians to visit edu4pbat.ng to explore the initiative and provide feedback on challenges affecting education in their communities.

NELFUND, established to provide interest-free financial assistance to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions, covers institutional charges and upkeep allowances.

Beneficiaries are expected to begin repaying their loans two years after completing the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, with repayment tied to employment or income, with 10 per cent of an employed beneficiary’s monthly salary deducted at source.