From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised the recent Supreme Court’s judgment that granted full financial autonomy to local government councils, asserting that it would significantly enhance Nigeria’s universal basic education system.
Speaking at the presentation of Professor Modupe Adelabu’s book, ‘Navigating the politics of universal education policies in Nigeria,’ in Abuja, Shettima emphasised that local governments responsible for primary education have faced financial constraints that hindered educational progress.
“The recent judgement brings the government closer to the people and offers new hope for our educational initiatives,” he stated.
He highlighted the ongoing reforms by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at addressing systemic inadequacies in education, noting that urgent action was needed to ensure every Nigerian child has access to quality education.
“As stewards of the nation, His Excellency President Bola Tinubu is leading the charge to reform the institutions tasked with overcoming the ideologies and inadequacies that have frustrated universal education in Nigeria.
“The lack of autonomy of local governments, which are responsible for delivering primary education, has created significant financial hindrances in aligning administrative units with our educational agenda.
“However, the recent Supreme Court’s judgement empowering local government councils to control their resources brings the government closer to the people. It provides new hope for our educational initiatives.”
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President also touched on the establishment of the Student Loan Scheme, which aims to provide financial support for students, adding that the Nigeria Education Loan Fund has seen a surge in applications.
The VP said: “The initiative ensures that every student has access to loans to pay their tuition, and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has already recorded an overwhelming number of applications.
“This is a landmark achievement, signalling the bright future we are building for our youth. Beyond making education universally free, our experience shows that incentivising is the most practical gateway before us. This is why all of us, across all levels and branches of government, must join this campaign to educate the nation.”
The vice president acknowledged the challenges facing the education sector, including the staggering number of out-of-school children, particularly girls.
He urged all levels of government to prioritise policies that empower local educators and inspire interest in education.
He pointed out that the realities inherited by the Tinubu administration “are such that demand urgent action to ensure that education is not only accessible but also desirable for every Nigerian child, fostering long-term national development.
“Many primary and secondary school-age children are still not attending or completing their education, and a large portion of the youth population lacks basic literacy skills, with notable gender disparities. This is what we must overcome,” he added.
Adelabu, the author of the book, called for a comprehensive reevaluation of Nigeria’s education system to better prepare children for both local and global challenges. “We need to focus on values like democracy and good governance, not just academics,” she stated.
The event also featured remarks from the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and other dignitaries, who praised Adelabu’s contributions to educational development.
Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, emphasised the need to distinguish between school attendance and quality education, while former First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, highlighted the urgent need for gender-specific policies to address the high number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria.