‘I Drove a Taxi to Fund My US Education’ – Tinubu

• Tinubu says he drove a taxi and worked several jobs to finance his university education in the United States, recalling how financial difficulties delayed his studies.

President Bola Tinubu has recalled working as a taxi driver in the United States to raise money for his education, saying he initially postponed starting school because he needed to save enough to support himself.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, November 4, the President linked those experiences to his administration’s efforts to make education more accessible to Nigerian students.

Tinubu said that after moving to Chicago, he took different jobs to meet his university expenses. He recalled the pressure of finding money for tuition, accommodation and everyday needs while pursuing his studies.

“I drove a taxi to earn money for my education,” he said.

The President said those experiences influenced his belief that a child’s family circumstances should not determine their educational opportunities.

Discussing his administration’s programmes, Tinubu said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund had provided more than ₦372 billion in loans for institutional fees and students’ upkeep.

He also said the government’s technical and vocational education programme had attracted over 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had undergone rehabilitation.

According to the President, students in federal and selected state technical colleges now receive support covering tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.

On university stability, Tinubu cited an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities providing for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration.

“A four-year course must take four years,” he said, stressing the importance of allowing students to complete their programmes without avoidable disruptions.

Tinubu further stated that his administration was investing ₦110 billion in rehabilitating 24 medical schools. He said annual nursing enrolment had risen from 28,000 to 115,000, while medical and dental enrolment had increased from 5,000 to 12,000.

He presented the expansion as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to train healthcare professionals locally.

The President also highlighted teacher development, educational opportunities for girls and the reintroduction of Nigerian History into the national curriculum.

He encouraged parents, students and teachers to learn about available education programmes and report problems affecting institutions in their communities, saying public feedback would help identify areas requiring attention.