Tinubu Reveals He Worked as Taxi Driver in US to Fund University Education
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that he worked as a taxi driver and took on several other jobs in the United States to finance his university education, disclosing that he had to delay starting school for several months to save enough money.
The President made the disclosure in a statement published on his X account on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, while highlighting his administration’s ongoing reforms and achievements in Nigeria’s education sector.
Tinubu said his experience as a young student struggling to pay tuition fees and accommodation expenses influenced his belief that every Nigerian child should have access to quality education, regardless of their family background.
According to him, after arriving in the United States, he drove a taxi to raise money for his education before eventually relocating to Chicago, where he took up different jobs to sustain himself and pay his way through university.
“When I first arrived in the United States as a young man, I drove a taxi to earn money for my education. I even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough,” he said.
“When I eventually got to Chicago, I worked different jobs to support myself and pay my way through university. I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation and how to make ends meet while pursuing an education.
“Those experiences have stayed with me.”
The President explained that those experiences had strengthened his determination to make education accessible to Nigerian children, irrespective of their place of birth or their parents’ financial circumstances.
He described education as a major priority under his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, noting that his government had introduced several programmes aimed at expanding access to learning and improving educational institutions across the country.
NELFUND Disburses Over ₦372 Billion in Student Loans
Tinubu disclosed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had provided more than ₦372 billion in student loans to cover institutional fees and students’ upkeep.
He said the initiative was introduced to ensure that young Nigerians could remain in school and complete their education without being compelled to abandon their studies because of financial difficulties.
The President also revealed that the government’s technical and vocational education programme had attracted more than 2.8 million applications.
According to him, 38 technical colleges have been rehabilitated, while students in federal and selected state technical colleges now benefit from free tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
Tinubu Announces 40% Salary Increase for University Lecturers
On the welfare of university lecturers, Tinubu said his administration had reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which provides for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to promote stability in Nigeria’s university system.
He maintained that Nigerian students deserved to complete their academic programmes within the stipulated time without unnecessary interruptions.
“A four-year course must take four years. Our young people deserve to complete their education on time and get on with their lives. Promise made, Promise Kept,” he stated.
The President further disclosed that his administration was investing ₦110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools across the country as part of efforts to improve medical education and increase the number of healthcare professionals trained locally.
He said annual nursing enrolment had increased from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment had risen from 5,000 to 12,000.
Tinubu explained that Nigeria required more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, making it necessary to strengthen the capacity of local institutions to train qualified personnel.
Over One Million Out-of-School Children Return to Classrooms
The President also announced that more than one million children who were previously out of school had returned to learning under his administration.
He added that the government was investing in teacher development, expanding educational opportunities for girls and implementing a new national curriculum that reintroduces Nigerian History into classrooms.
According to Tinubu, Nigerian children must understand the country’s history, appreciate their national identity and acquire the knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to its future development.
He commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and other members of the education team for their contributions to the reforms.
The President also announced the development of an interactive A–Z guide to the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which brings together government programmes, reforms, achievements and opportunities within the education sector.
He urged parents, students and teachers to visit edu4pbat.ng to familiarise themselves with the available programmes and opportunities.
Tinubu further encouraged Nigerians to report challenges affecting educational institutions in their communities, explaining that feedback from citizens would help the government identify problems and take appropriate action.
“Our journey from reform to opportunities and shared prosperity must begin with education,” he said.
“The circumstances of a child’s birth should never determine the limits of their ambition. Our responsibility is to give every Nigerian child a fair chance to fulfil their potential.”
Tinubu Reflects on Saudi Arabia Visit, Says He Prayed for Nigeria
The President’s latest remarks come days after he concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah, and was granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Kaaba in Makkah to pray.
During the visit, Tinubu expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his delegation access to the sacred structure.
He said he used the opportunity to pray for peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.
The President also disclosed that he had asked Allah for wisdom and resilience to continue leading the country, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” he said.
Tinubu further described his emergence as Nigeria’s leader as a special blessing from Allah, insisting that political authority should be exercised with humility and in accordance with God’s dictates.
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He also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic prospects, maintaining that the country’s economic foundation was solid and that the economy had emerged from what he described as a dark tunnel.
Emphasising the importance of investing in the younger generation, the President said:
“We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now? That’s the main thing,” Tinubu said.
