Nigeria’s education sector is witnessing a major transformation, with more than one million out-of-school children reportedly returned to classrooms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. From billions in education funding and student loans to teacher development, technical training and expanded access for girls, the Federal Government says its reforms are beginning to deliver measurable results.
President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms have reportedly brought more than one million out-of-school children back into classrooms, marking what the Federal Government describes as a significant milestone in its efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s education system.
The development was disclosed by Dele Alake, spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, in a statement issued on Wednesday. He said the administration’s interventions had expanded access to education, strengthened teachers’ welfare and helped stabilise the academic calendar across tertiary institutions.
Citing the Federal Ministry of Education’s Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) 2026 report, Alake said the reforms cut across basic and secondary education, technical and vocational training, science and medical education, and the tertiary sector.
According to him, the government’s strategy is built around six priority areas: technical and vocational education, science and medical sciences, out-of-school children, girl-child education, digitalisation and education quality assurance.
₦3.52 Trillion Education Budget, $552 Million HOPE-EDU Funding
In what the administration presents as a major financial commitment to education, the Federal Government allocated a record ₦3.52 trillion to the sector in the 2026 budget.
It also secured $552 million for the HOPE-EDU programme, designed to support 29 million children, more than 500,000 teachers and 65,000 public schools.
The BESDA programme has reportedly returned over one million out-of-school children to learning, trained 1,400 Tsangaya teachers and established 200 bilingual learning centres across 17 northern states.
The government is also expanding opportunities for the girl-child through the AGILE programme, which has reached 7.19 million girls, with 3.7 million enrolled in secondary schools.
More than 10,000 schools have also benefited from improved facilities under the initiative.
Beyond access, the administration is targeting the quality and relevance of education through a revised national curriculum that restores Nigerian History and strengthens Civic and Heritage Studies.
The National Learning Assessment has also been restored to track pupils’ performance, identify learning gaps and provide a clearer picture of educational outcomes.
Over 53,000 Teachers Enrolled in Professional Development Drive
Recognising that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers, the government is also pursuing an ambitious teacher-development programme.
Under EduRevamp, 53,553 teachers have registered, while 51,794 have joined the first cohort of the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP).
The six-month programme provides professional qualifications, certification and licensing, with a target of reaching 250,000 teachers by 2027.
Backed by ₦2 billion in funding, the initiative is expected to strengthen teaching standards and improve classroom delivery nationwide.
The government has also introduced Inspire Live, a digital learning initiative providing online lessons from Primary One to Senior Secondary School Three.
The platform combines lessons delivered by certified teachers with AI-assisted learning tools, opening up additional opportunities for students to access quality educational content.
TVET Programme Attracts 2.8 Million Applications, Over 156,000 Beneficiaries
In another major development, the government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme is attracting significant interest from Nigerians seeking practical skills and employment opportunities.
The scheme has received more than 2.8 million applications, with 156,446 verified trainees already benefiting from free training, monthly stipends and start-up support.
According to Alake, over ₦65.7 billion has been disbursed to trainees, while another ₦30.2 billion has gone to training centres.
The administration has also rehabilitated 38 technical colleges and introduced free technical education covering tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
The initiative is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills and create pathways into employment, entrepreneurship and economic independence.
NELFUND Disburses ₦372.62 Billion to Students
Perhaps one of the most significant interventions in the tertiary education sector is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which is changing how thousands of students finance their education.
The programme has processed 1,659,853 student loan applications and disbursed ₦372.62 billion across 319 tertiary institutions.
The amount comprises ₦192.89 billion for tuition fees and ₦179.73 billion for students’ upkeep allowances.
The government also claims to have resolved the longstanding dispute involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), alongside implementing an agreement that provides a 40 per cent