The Federal Government has announced major reforms to overhaul Nigeria’s education system, focusing on student loans, vocational training, and large-scale infrastructure development.
Speaking at the 4th edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja on March 13, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa outlined key initiatives under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at transitioning the country to a knowledge-driven economy.
As part of these reforms, the government has disbursed N35 billion in student loans to 261,000 beneficiaries through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with over 420,000 applications received so far. Additionally, President Bola Tinubu has approved N120 billion to expand technical and vocational education (TVET), targeting 650,000 youths with essential industry skills, along with incentives such as monthly stipends and take-off grants.
The government is also launching a massive education infrastructure upgrade, including plans to construct 7,200 new schools, renovate 195,000 classrooms, train 970,000 teachers, and distribute 103 million textbooks to boost basic education enrollment to 80% by 2027. In the medical sector, TETFUND’s 2025 high-impact intervention will focus on 18 medical schools across Nigeria, aiming to quadruple the number of medical students.
To further strengthen the education system, the Federal Government is securing a $552 million World Bank credit facility for the HOPE Education Initiative, which will provide performance-based funding to state governments.
These reforms signal a major investment in student support, skills training, and nationwide education infrastructure, positioning Nigeria for long-term economic growth and workforce development.
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