- Dr. Alausa Highlights Nigeria’s Education Transformation Under Tinubu at Eko Club 25th Anniversary
- Alausa praised Tinubu’s long-standing support
- Alausa also spotlighted the TVET initiative which has upgraded 38 technical colleges
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s enduring influence on Lagos State and Nigeria’s education sector was highlighted during the 25th anniversary of Eko Club International, where he was celebrated for his visionary leadership and commitment to youth and education.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, referenced President Tinubu’s pivotal role in the formation of Eko Club International, recalling that over 25 years ago, Tinubu personally called on Otunba OJ Lawal and Otunba TJ Abbas to establish the club.
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Alausa noted that Tinubu attended every single convention during his tenure as Lagos State Governor and continued to participate even after leaving office, becoming Governor Emeritus. This long-standing engagement underscored Tinubu’s commitment to Lagosians and the diaspora.
The event, themed “African Rising, Diaspora Relations, Global Perception, and the Nigeria Advantage,” brought together Lagos State dignitaries, Eko Club members, and representatives of the Nigerian diaspora.
Alausa praised Tinubu’s long-standing support for the initiative, noting that his guidance and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the organization’s success.
Highlighting the country’s educational reforms under President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, Alausa stated that Nigeria has made historic strides, including taking over 10 million out-of-school children under the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children.
The program integrates community and Sharia schools into the national framework, providing literacy, numeracy, vocational training, digital learning, and psychosocial support, repositioning Almajiri education as a national asset rather than a liability.
Alausa also spotlighted the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative, which has upgraded 38 technical colleges, trained over 3,600 instructors, accredited more than 1,600 centers, and onboarded over 1 million applicants to a digital platform. Around 80,000 students are scheduled to begin vocational training in the coming week.
In addition, the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative has strengthened tertiary education, scholarships, and youth empowerment.
Over 12,000 students have benefited from scholarship awards totaling about 10 billion naira, while nearly 9,000 received scholarship support worth over 4 billion naira.
The initiative also provides interest-free loans to academic and non-academic staff across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, improving welfare, morale, and performance.
Lagos State University, one of Nigeria’s first-generation universities, was highlighted as the most sought-after institution in the country, with nearly 80,000 applicants this year.
The achievement underscores both the state government’s investment in education under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the foundational support of Tinubu’s policies during his tenure as governor.
The anniversary also celebrated the Diaspora Bridge Program, which allows Nigerians abroad to contribute to teaching, research, and innovation in the country, either remotely or through organized visits with full government support for travel, accommodation, and logistics.
Alausa emphasized the transformative potential of education in Africa, urging governments to adopt similar initiatives focusing on STEM, vocational skills, teacher professionalization, and data-driven planning.
He credited President Tinubu’s leadership for prioritizing education in the national budget and for ensuring sustained political will to drive reforms.
Speaking to the audience, Alausa described Tinubu’s continued influence on Nigeria’s education system and youth empowerment as foundational for the country and the continent.
“No nation can rise above the quality of its education,” Alausa said. “For Africa to claim the future, education must be the bedrock upon which we build prosperity, innovation, peace, and sustainability.”
He urged the diaspora, Eko Club members, and all Nigerians to leverage these programs, noting that the initiatives under Tinubu’s vision are turning brain drain into brain gain, creating opportunities for the youth to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders.
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