Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said President Bola Tinubu’s promise that four-year courses will run for four years is holding, pointing to the absence of major university strikes since 2023.
Minister cites stable academic calendar
Alausa made the remark on Thursday during a panel session tagged “Renewed Hope Conversations” held at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University.
According to him, most federal universities have remained in session since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, following the eight-month ASUU strike that ended in October 2022.
“For students admitted in September 2023, graduation remains on track for 2027 if calendars hold,” he said.
Billions spent on infrastructure
The minister outlined ongoing investments in the education sector, noting that ₦160 billion has been spent on hostel construction nationwide.
He added that ₦100 billion has been approved for additional infrastructure, while ₦50 billion was allocated this year for ICT centre rehabilitation.
He also referenced ongoing efforts to support innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Student support and funding
Alausa said the government has introduced a student loan scheme to ease financial pressure, insisting that no student should be forced out of school due to lack of funds.
“This is an administration that has provided a loan fund to make schooling easier,” he said.
Other ministers speak on continuity
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the administration’s policies are designed to reposition Nigeria and create opportunities for young people.
She noted that the government is targeting the digital and creative space, including music, film, and content creation, to provide alternatives to traditional employment.
“The goal is to create an enabling environment where creators can monetise their work and protect intellectual property,” she said.
Government ‘open to all Nigerians’
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, told students that the current administration provides opportunities regardless of political connections.
“Under this government, a ‘son of a nobody’ can become somebody,” he said, citing his own appointment as an example.
The discussion forms part of broader engagement on education reforms and youth-focused policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda, now trending in latest Nigerian news and breaking news Nigeria today.