Tinubu lists ₦372bn student loans, ₦110bn medical investment in NESRI reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has highlighted over ₦372 billion in student loans and a ₦110 billion investment in medical education among the achievements of his administration under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, November 4, while outlining his administration's education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had provided over ₦372 billion in loans for institutional fees and upkeep, helping young Nigerians remain in school and pursue their education.

On technical and vocational education, he disclosed that the government's programme had attracted over 2.8 million applications while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.

He added that students in federal and selected state technical colleges now benefit from free school fees, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.

In medical education, Tinubu said the government was investing ₦110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools.

He also revealed that annual nursing enrolment had increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment rose from 5,000 to 12,000.

The President further disclosed that over one million children previously out of school had returned to learning, alongside ongoing investments in teacher development and efforts to expand educational opportunities for girls.

On university education, he said his administration had reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), providing for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to improve stability in universities.

He added that Nigerian History had been restored to the national curriculum to help children understand the country's heritage and prepare for future responsibilities.

The reforms form part of NESRI, the Federal Ministry of Education's six-point agenda covering technical and vocational education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical sciences (STEMM), out-of-school children and Almajiri education, girl-child education, data and digitalisation, and education quality assurance.

Tinubu commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa'id Ahmad, and other members of the education team for their contributions.

He also disclosed that the education team had developed an interactive A–Z of NESRI, bringing together information on reforms, programmes, achievements and opportunities across the education sector.

The President encouraged parents, students, teachers and other Nigerians to visit edu4pbat.ng to explore the initiative, identify available opportunities and provide feedback on challenges affecting education in their communities.

He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to expanding access to education, stressing that the circumstances of a child's birth should never determine the limits of their ambition.