By Felix Khanoba
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has linked President Bola Tinubu’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election to his administration’s performance, citing investments in education, vocational training and youth development as key areas for public assessment.
Alausa stated this in Abuja during a visit to the City Boy Movement’s office, where he commended Seyi Tinubu and members of the group for their grassroots mobilisation and engagement with Nigerians across different age groups, ethnic backgrounds and social classes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the minister urged members of the movement to sustain their community outreach and communicate the Federal Government’s policies and programmes effectively.
He described the movement’s activities as an expression of volunteerism and collective responsibility, stressing that grassroots engagement remained important in connecting government policies with the needs and concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
According to Alausa, Tinubu’s administration is pursuing a long-term development agenda that prioritises the future of younger generations, even where achieving its objectives requires difficult policy decisions.
“President Tinubu makes promises he intends to fulfil. His decisions are not just about today; they are about the future of our children and grandchildren,” the Minister said.
The minister identified education as a major component of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education, improving student welfare, strengthening technical and vocational education, and equipping young Nigerians with skills relevant to the changing demands of the economy.
He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s interventions to reduce financial barriers to higher education, noting that students should not be denied the opportunity to pursue their academic ambitions because their families cannot afford the cost.
Alausa said the student loan scheme reflected the government’s commitment to broadening educational opportunities and ensuring that financial limitations did not automatically determine young people’s chances of academic advancement.
He also highlighted the administration’s investment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), disclosing that more than 250,000 Nigerians were enrolled in skills development programmes across approximately 1,200 training centres nationwide.
According to him, the programmes provide practical training in areas such as solar photovoltaic installation, fashion and garment production, carpentry, construction-related trades and animal husbandry, among other technical fields.
The minister explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between education and employment by preparing beneficiaries for opportunities in industry, entrepreneurship and other productive sectors.
He stressed that Nigeria’s economic transformation depended partly on its ability to develop a skilled workforce, arguing that education should extend beyond the acquisition of certificates to equip learners with practical competencies needed in the workplace.
On tertiary education, Alausa highlighted ongoing efforts to address infrastructure and student accommodation challenges, noting that inadequate housing remained a concern across higher institutions.
He said improved infrastructure was necessary to enhance students’ living and learning conditions, expand access and support the delivery of quality education.
The minister also referenced efforts to expand nursing education and professional training, explaining that increasing the supply of skilled personnel was essential to strengthening critical sectors and developing the country’s human capital.
He maintained that sustained investment in education, vocational training and professional development would create opportunities for young Nigerians and contribute to long-term national prosperity.
Alausa attributed the administration’s reform agenda to Tinubu’s determination to address longstanding structural challenges and create greater fiscal space for investment in essential public services.
He argued that the government’s economic decisions should be assessed alongside their intended long-term benefits, particularly their potential to support investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and other services that affect citizens’ quality of life.
The minister also pointed to opportunities in business-process outsourcing and the expansion of Nigeria’s service economy, expressing optimism that a better-skilled workforce could attract international businesses and create employment opportunities for young people.
He stressed that achieving the administration’s development objectives would require policy consistency, effective implementation and sustained investment in the country’s human capital.
Alausa urged members of the City Boy Movement to intensify constructive grassroots engagement, promote informed public discussions and help Nigerians understand the Federal Government’s policies and programmes.
He also cautioned against misinformation and divisive rhetoric, calling on citizens to prioritise the national interest and approach discussions about Nigeria’s future responsibly.
Reiterating his confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, the minister said the administration’s record in education, skills development and human-capital investment should feature prominently in public discussions ahead of the 2027 election.
He again commended Seyi Tinubu and members of the City Boy Movement for their mobilisation efforts, emphasising the importance of active citizenship, patriotism and collective responsibility in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
