I Drove Taxi in US to Fund My University Education — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that he worked as a taxi driver and took up other jobs in the United States to finance his university education.

Tinubu made the disclosure in a statement shared on his official X account on Wednesday, November 4, while highlighting his administration’s education policies and interventions.

The President said he postponed starting school for several months after arriving in the United States to save enough money for his education.

“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.

He added that after arriving in Chicago, he worked different jobs to support himself and pay his way through university.

Tinubu said his personal experience had given him an understanding of the financial difficulties students face in paying tuition, securing accommodation and meeting other educational expenses.

“Those experiences have stayed with me. I know what education made possible in my own life, and I believe every Nigerian child deserves that same opportunity, regardless of where they are born or what their parents can afford,” he stated.

The President used the occasion to highlight the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying the scheme had provided more than ₦372 billion in student loans to cover institutional fees and upkeep.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government’s technical and vocational education programme had attracted over 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.

On university education, Tinubu said his administration had reached an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), providing for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures aimed at improving stability in the university system.

He further announced that the government was investing ₦110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools.

According to him, 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 also said more than one million children who were previously out of school had returned to learning, adding that his administration was investing in teacher development, girls’ education and curriculum reforms.

He urged parents, students, teachers and other Nigerians to explore available education programmes and report challenges affecting schools in their communities.

The President said his experience had reinforced his belief that a child’s financial background should not determine the educational opportunities available to them.