The Federal Government says it has invested more than N1 trillion in improving tertiary education across Nigeria over the past two years.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a meeting with members of the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Education.
According to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the investment is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to make higher education more accessible and improve learning facilities across the country.
Alausa said the reforms are aimed at ensuring that every qualified Nigerian, regardless of financial background, can access quality tertiary education. He added that the government is also strengthening universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to produce skilled graduates needed for national development.
He said President Tinubu has shown a strong commitment to developing the country’s human capital through continued investments in education.
“The President has made it possible for students from poor families to pursue higher education without money being a major obstacle. Education should no longer be out of reach for qualified students,” the minister said.
Alausa described the reforms as an investment in Nigeria’s future, saying they will help young people achieve their goals and contribute to national development.
He explained that the government has committed N250 billion to build new student hostels in tertiary institutions to improve accommodation and create a better learning environment.
He added that more than N150 billion has been spent on renovating existing hostels, classrooms, engineering workshops and other academic facilities.
According to the minister, over N130 billion has also been invested in upgrading medical schools and increasing their training capacity across the country.
He said N52 billion has been approved to provide modern equipment for 18 medical schools, while nearly N30 billion has been invested in setting up 11 medical simulation laboratories to improve practical training for medical students.
To strengthen engineering education, Alausa said the government has invested almost N110 billion in constructing and renovating engineering workshops, as well as providing modern equipment for Federal Universities of Technology, other universities offering engineering programmes and polytechnic
