The Federal government has declared its dedication to guaranteeing that no competent Nigerian is denied access to tertiary education since of monetary troubles, stating that current reforms and investments in the education sector have substantially decreased financial barriers to higher knowing.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, provided the assurance throughout a conference with members of the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology and Speech and Language Treatment Education.
In a declaration released on Tuesday by the minister’s Unique Advisor on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said the Tinubu administration remains concentrated on offering equitable access to quality tertiary education for all eligible trainees, irrespective of their monetary background.
According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has actually introduced policies designed to ensure that trainees from low-income households are no longer avoided from pursuing college because of lack of funds.
He stated the administration’s education reforms are targeted at developing equal opportunities for young Nigerians to develop their possible and contribute meaningfully to national advancement.
Alausa likewise highlighted the Federal government’s investments in tertiary education, keeping in mind that more than 1 trillion has actually been dedicated to enhancing facilities and broadening finding out chances throughout universities, polytechnics and colleges of education within the last 2 years.
He disclosed that 250 billion has been assigned for the building of brand-new student hostels, while over 150 billion has been invested in renovating existing hostels, class, engineering workshops and other academic facilities.
Read also:
Senate Broadens Safe Schools Initiative Probe to Consist Of TETFund, NELFUND, UBEC
Student loan allowances still active, NELFUND tells recipients
The minister further revealed that the federal government has dedicated more than 130 billion to the rehab and growth of medical schools across the nation to enhance training capacity for health care experts.
In addition, he stated 52 billion has been authorized for the procurement of contemporary equipment for 18 medical schools, while nearly 30 billion has been invested in establishing 11 sophisticated medical simulation labs to improve useful medical training.
To strengthen engineering education, Alausa mentioned that practically 110 billion has been funnelled into the building and construction and rehabilitation of engineering workshops, together with the arrangement of modern-day equipment for federal universities of innovation, traditional universities providing engineering programmes and polytechnics.
Explaining the interventions as some of the most considerable investments ever made in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the minister said they incorporate infrastructure advancement, facility upgrades, acquisition of contemporary teaching devices, growth of specialised labs and workshops, and institutional capability building.
He revealed self-confidence that the financial investments would boost teaching, finding out and research while producing graduates geared up with the practical abilities and technical knowledge needed to drive innovation and financial development.
Alausa declared the ministry’s commitment to working with tertiary institutions and appropriate stakeholders to guarantee that the ongoing reforms translate into improved instructional requirements and greater opportunities for trainees nationwide.
Previously, the Chairman of the National Committee for the Improvement of Occupational Treatment, Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Education, Dr Victoria Omua Amu, informed the minister on the committee’s progress.
She revealed that the committee has developed an one-year execution strategy, developed a governance structure and developed specialised subcommittees to promote advocacy, scholastic partnerships and workforce advancement.
According to Amu, 6 Nigerian universities presently provide Audiology programs, while 5 run Occupational Treatment programmes and 3 deal Speech and Language Treatment courses. She added that the University of Benin is expected to start an Occupational Treatment programme in the 2026/2027 scholastic session.
She, nevertheless, recognized delays in accessing support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as a major obstacle impacting application of the committee’s strategies.
The Federal government has actually continued to put growth of access to higher education at the centre of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, introducing efforts such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to offer interest-free loans for eligible students, while increasing financial investment in infrastructure through TETFund to enhance mentor, research study and development throughout tertiary organizations.