The Federal Government has called on Nigerian students to mobilise 10 million votes for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made the appeal in Abuja when the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other student bodies visited him.

Alausa urged student leaders to rally their colleagues behind the Tinubu administration, arguing that continuity was necessary to consolidate ongoing reforms in the education sector.

According to him, Nigerian students have a major stake in the 2027 election because government policies directly affect their access to education, skills acquisition, employment opportunities and future prospects.

The minister listed student financing, technical and vocational education, campus infrastructure, accommodation, entrepreneurship and efforts to maintain a stable academic calendar among the administration’s key interventions.

He particularly cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying about N200 billion had been committed to the scheme, with more than 1.6 million students benefiting.

Alausa said additional funding sources recently approved by Tinubu would further strengthen NELFUND, while assuring beneficiaries that the monthly upkeep allowance would be sustained.

He also disclosed that more than N200 billion had been committed to expanding student accommodation, while over N150 billion had been invested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure.

The minister said the Student Venture Capital Grant was also supporting students with innovative ideas to establish businesses and create employment, adding that the government was considering raising the grant ceiling in its next phase.

He further highlighted government investments in renewable energy projects across federal tertiary institutions, campus transportation and other initiatives aimed at improving students’ daily academic experience.

Alausa said renewable energy installations were being expanded to provide more reliable electricity for laboratories, workshops, libraries and hostels, while additional tricycles would be deployed on campuses to ease transportation challenges.

On industrial relations, the minister said continued engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was contributing to academic stability and supporting the administration’s commitment to ensuring that four-year programmes are completed within four years.

NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, commended the Tinubu administration and the education minister for interventions such as NELFUND and TVET.

Akinteye said the student loan scheme had provided significant relief to beneficiaries, particularly through the monthly upkeep allowance, which he described as an important support for students facing financial difficulties.

He urged the government to sustain the initiative while drawing attention to other challenges confronting students.

The NANS president raised concerns over the administration of Federal Scholarship Awards, illegal admissions and accreditation problems in some institutions.

He called for stronger regulatory measures against institutions admitting students into programmes without the necessary approval or adequate capacity.

Akinteye, however, pledged the readiness of student leaders to work with the government to address the challenges affecting Nigerian students.