The Nigerian education system has, in recent years, experienced various reforms under past administrations aimed at enhancing quality, increasing access, and aligning the system with international standards. For over three decades, education budget allocations in Nigeria have consistently fallen below the UNESCO-recommended 15 to 20 per cent. This led to deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate learning resources, poor teacher remuneration, a shortage of essential materials, overcrowded classrooms, and insufficient facilities.
Budgetary shortfalls in the nation’s education sector adversely affected student performance and the unavailability of essential facilities and modern technology needed for updated curricula. This financial shortfall limits support for emerging skills such as digital literacy and knowledge in modern agricultural techniques, which are crucial for local community development. Such sociocultural factors as poverty and insecurity contributed in no small measure to the number of out-of-school children in the country.
Inconsistent policies and slow reform implementation, over the years, hindered the provision of quality and inclusive basic education in Nigeria. The sector has also suffered from brain drain, outdated curricula, insufficient investment in research and development, as well as corruption and mismanagement of funds, which have limited innovation and graduates’ employability.
This was the situation of Nigeria’s education sector when President Bola Tinubu assumed office. Within the two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s education policies have undergone significant transformation focused on inclusivity, skill acquisition, data-driven planning, and education quality enhancement.
In an unprecedented move to restore and rebuild the education sector as a foundation for national development, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration prioritised education in the 2025 federal budget, allocating a record N3.52 trillion to the sector, marking a 61.47 per cent increase from the previous year. The increase represents a significant step towards revitalising the sector under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The budgetary allocation for the year focuses on improving infrastructure, expanding student funding, and increasing access to quality education at all levels. This also reflects the administration’s commitment to human capital development and efforts at boosting the power of education in combating poverty.
Towards Nigeria’s transition from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, Tinubu’s administration launched the Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, Skill Development and Acquisition, and DOTS.
The initiative addresses the lack of coordinated and reliable education data, and it provides opportunities for the conduct of a comprehensive census across all education levels, enabling better planning and monitoring of student progress. It also targets the reintegration of over 20 million out-of-school children into the education system, aiming to prevent their exploitation and improve enrollment rates nationwide.
The DOTS education flagship programme also emphasises upgrading of technical and vocational education by modernising 38 federal and state technical colleges and introducing a dual-training model focused on hands-on skills acquisition. The initiative led to the implementation of a Free Education Programme in 33 Federal Science and Technical Colleges, providing free tuition, food, accommodation, and stipends to students.
Through the National Skills Framework, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration seeks to equip students with relevant competencies for the 21st-century economy, thereby improving employability and fostering national development.
Central to the commitment of the Renewed Hope Agenda is the launch of the #WeAreEqual Campaign, a programme that promotes inclusive education, skill development, and gender equity. This is in furtherance of its commitment to unbiased learning opportunities and the advancement of girl-child education in Nigeria.
In addition, the administration has supported expansive programs like the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), benefiting millions of girls across multiple states with scholarships, skills training, and community support.
The Tinubu administration established eight federal universities in the last two years with a focus on specialised fields such as agriculture, environment, health sciences, sports, and technology. Through the restructuring of leadership in federal universities and standardised academic calendars, the administration has reduced strikes and improved institutional governance, fostering stability and synergy across tertiary institutions.
Another landmark achievement of the President Tinubu administration in education is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a flagship initiative aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria. Since its launch in May 2024, NELFUND has registered over 600,000 students, processed more than 550,000 successful loan applications, and disbursed approximately ₦56.85 billion in interest-free loans to cover tuition fees and upkeep allowances. This initiative has empowered students from low-income families by providing accessible, zero-interest loans without requiring guarantors or income thresholds, hence promoting equity and inclusiveness in education financing.
With notable efforts such as addressing socio-economic barriers, sustained comprehensive and inclusive educational policies, enhanced funding and resource allocation and integration of technology in education, the Tinubu administration has set Nigeria on a new trajectory for the rebuilding of the education sector of Nigeria.
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