LOKOJA, Nigeria (FN) — Former Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has stirred controversy by praising President Bola Tinubu’s education policies, calling them “transformational” and “inclusive,” despite mounting criticism over the administration’s broader handling of youth and education.
Speaking at the Federal University of Lokoja during a convocation lecture titled “Empowering the Future Generation: The Founders’ Vision and Legacy,” Dogara lauded Tinubu’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), claiming it had disbursed ninety-nine billion, five hundred million naira in interest-free loans to indigent students — a figure critics say lacks transparency and accountability.
“Education remains our most powerful weapon against poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment,” Dogara declared, adding that Tinubu’s policies are “dismantling systemic barriers” for marginalized groups. But detractors argue that the president’s education agenda is more political theater than genuine reform, pointing to underfunded universities, unpaid lecturers, and rising tuition costs.
Dogara’s remarks have sparked backlash from student unions and civil society groups, who accuse him of whitewashing the realities facing Nigerian youth. “To those who wonder why I support these reforms, the answer is simple: anyone who has benefited from education should do the same,” he said — a statement critics say ignores the widening gap between elite privilege and grassroots struggle.
The former speaker urged graduates to “think globally but act locally,” calling for African-led solutions to African problems. Yet many students say they are graduating into a job market plagued by unemployment, inflation, and political instability.
Dogara’s endorsement of Tinubu’s education policies comes amid growing skepticism about the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which some view as a hollow slogan masking deep systemic failures. For many, the praise rings hollow in a country where access to quality education remains a privilege, not a right.
