The Federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to guaranteeing that no competent Nigerian is denied access to tertiary education because of financial troubles, mentioning that recent reforms and financial investments in the education sector have substantially decreased economic barriers to higher knowing.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, provided the guarantee during a meeting with members of the National Committee for the Improvement of Occupational Treatment, Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Education.
In a declaration provided on Tuesday by the minister’s Special Advisor on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said the Tinubu administration remains focused on offering fair access to quality tertiary education for all qualified students, regardless of their monetary background.
According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has actually presented policies developed to guarantee that students from low-income families are no longer avoided from pursuing college since of lack of funds.
He said the administration’s education reforms are focused on developing level playing fields for young Nigerians to establish their prospective and contribute meaningfully to national advancement.
Alausa also highlighted the Federal Government’s investments in tertiary education, keeping in mind that more than 1 trillion has been committed to improving facilities and expanding finding out opportunities throughout universities, polytechnics and colleges of education within the last 2 years.
He disclosed that 250 billion has been designated for the building of brand-new trainee hostels, while over 150 billion has actually been invested in remodeling existing hostels, classrooms, engineering workshops and other academic facilities.
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The minister further exposed that the federal government has actually committed more than 130 billion to the rehab and growth of medical schools throughout the country to reinforce training capacity for health care experts.
In addition, he said 52 billion has actually been approved for the procurement of contemporary equipment for 18 medical schools, while nearly 30 billion has been purchased establishing 11 advanced medical simulation laboratories to improve useful clinical training.
To reinforce engineering education, Alausa specified that nearly 110 billion has actually been funnelled into the building and construction and rehabilitation of engineering workshops, alongside the arrangement of modern-day devices for federal universities of innovation, standard universities using engineering programs and polytechnics.
Describing the interventions as a few of the most significant financial investments ever made in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the minister said they encompass facilities development, center upgrades, acquisition of contemporary mentor devices, growth of specialised labs and workshops, and institutional capability building.
He expressed self-confidence that the financial investments would boost mentor, discovering and research study while producing graduates equipped with the useful skills and technical know-how required to drive innovation and economic development.
Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to dealing with tertiary institutions and relevant stakeholders to make sure that the continuous reforms equate into improved instructional standards and higher chances for students nationwide.
Previously, the Chairman of the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Treatment, Audiology and Speech and Language Treatment Education, Dr Victoria Omua Amu, informed the minister on the committee’s development.
She disclosed that the committee has actually established a 1 year implementation strategy, established a governance structure and produced specialised subcommittees to promote advocacy, scholastic partnerships and workforce development.
According to Amu, 6 Nigerian universities currently use Audiology programmes, while five run Occupational Treatment programmes and three offer Speech and Language Treatment courses. She included that the University of Benin is anticipated to start an Occupational Therapy programme in the 2026/2027 academic session.
She, however, identified hold-ups in accessing assistance from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as a significant difficulty affecting execution of the committee’s strategies.
The Federal government has continued to put expansion of access to higher education at the centre of President Tinubu’s Restored Hope Agenda, introducing efforts such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to offer interest-free loans for eligible trainees, while increasing investment in infrastructure through TETFund to enhance teaching, research study and development throughout tertiary institutions.