The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other student leaders to mobilise 10 million student votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser (Media and Communications), Alausa made the call in Abuja when the leadership of NANS and other student associations paid him a familiarisation visit.
He said Nigerian students had a direct stake in the 2027 elections, stressing that continuity of the Tinubu administration was necessary to sustain ongoing reforms in student financing, technical and vocational education, infrastructure and access to tertiary education.
According to the minister, the administration has demonstrated commitment to young Nigerians through policies covering student loans, accommodation, skills development, entrepreneurship, campus infrastructure and academic stability.
Alausa identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s major interventions, saying about N200 billion had been committed to the scheme, with more than 1.6 million students benefiting.
He assured students that the monthly upkeep allowance under NELFUND would continue, adding that President Tinubu’s directives on additional funding sources would strengthen the sustainability of the scheme.
The minister also disclosed that more than N200 billion had been committed to expanding student accommodation, while over N150 billion had been invested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure.
He said the Student Venture Capital Grant was enabling students to convert innovative ideas into businesses and become job creators, noting that government was considering raising the grant ceiling in the next phase.
Alausa further disclosed that renewable energy projects were being expanded across federal tertiary institutions to provide more reliable electricity for laboratories, workshops, libraries and hostels.
He added that additional campus tricycles would be deployed to ease transportation challenges faced by students.
The minister said sustained engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was also contributing to academic stability and the government’s objective of ensuring that four-year programmes are completed within four years.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the visit was aimed at strengthening engagement between the Presidency, the Ministry of Education and the organised student community.
He commended student leaders for their advocacy on student welfare, saying their partnership with government was important in identifying challenges and developing practical solutions.
The NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, commended President Tinubu and Alausa for interventions such as NELFUND and TVET.
Akinteye said the student loan scheme had made a significant difference in the lives of beneficiaries, particularly the monthly upkeep allowance, which he described as an important relief for students facing financial difficulties.
However, he raised concerns over Federal Scholarship Awards, illegal admissions and accreditation challenges in some institutions.
He called for stronger regulatory measures to prevent institutions from admitting students into unapproved programmes or courses without the required capacity.
Responding, Alausa assured the student leaders that the concerns raised were receiving the attention of the Ministry.
He said the government was working to resolve funding challenges affecting the Federal Scholarship Awards, strengthen admission processes and undertake a comprehensive review of the accreditation system.
The minister assured the students that the Ministry would maintain an open channel of communication with their leadership and continue to address issues affecting their education and welfare.
He said the government remained committed to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in education, with emphasis on quality education, relevant skills, job creation and opportunities for young Nigerians to contribute to national development.
