NigeriaDecides2023: I will pay undivided attention to your education —Tinubu

Following his declaration as winner of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, President-elect Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has assured Nigerian students of “undivided attention” to their education in his acceptance speech during the early hours of Wednesday, March 1.

Tinubu affirmed that there will be no more industrial strike actions, which have plagued Nigeria’s public education system for many years, especially the public tertiary institutions. The president-elect said: “We will work together. I will pay undivided attention to your education. A 4-year course will be a 4-year course. No more strikes.”

On the revamp of Nigeria’s public education system to provide quality education that will bring about global competitiveness, Tinubu said education loans and credits will be available.

“Credit will be available. Education loans will be available,” said Tinubu, in his acceptance speech.

Tinubu added that “universities will have the autonomy to be able to upgrade syllabuses and be creative.”

He said there will be no more selling of handouts by lecturers. “They [Lecturers] must be authors. They must write and create for the nation.”

He empathises with Nigerians and assured that their votes have not gone unappreciated. He said: “I know where it pains, and believe me, you will see the reward of your election.”

Mahmood Yakubu, chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results of the 2023 general elections in the wee hours of Wednesday. Yakubu said Tinubu secured a total of 8,794,726 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) was next with 6,101,533 votes.

“That Tinubu Bola Ahmed of the APC, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned,” the INEC chair said.

Yakubu added that the issuance of the certificate of return to Tinubu will take place at 3pm on Wednesday.