Former Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, has urged the Federal Government to review its approach to funding education, arguing that students should not be saddled with loans to access what he described as a fundamental right.
Shittu made the call on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
The former minister said government policies on education should prioritise children from poor and disadvantaged homes, arguing that access to education should be treated alongside employment, healthcare and other essential aspects of citizens’ welfare.
He questioned the rationale behind providing loans to students in an economy where many graduates are already struggling to secure employment several years after leaving university.
“Today, we have in this country graduates who graduated ten years ago and are still looking for jobs. They don’t have jobs and they are talking about giving them loans. I don’t believe in loans. I believe in fundamental rights,” he said.
Shittu urged Nigerians to examine the provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to education, arguing that the government has a responsibility to promote access to education and create an environment where citizens can develop their potential.
“I challenge everyone to go and look at the education objectives in the Constitution of Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution,” he said.
He also argued that educating children should not be viewed solely as an individual family responsibility, noting that traditional Nigerian communities historically regarded the upbringing and education of children as a collective responsibility.
“In our local community, a child born into a community is the responsibility of the entire community to train, to educate and to provide for,” Shittu said.
According to him, the issue is largely about government priorities and the effective management of available resources. He recalled that previous administrations had invested in areas such as free education, healthcare and other social services.
The former minister maintained that Nigeria possesses the resources and human capacity required to improve access to education, citing Rwanda as an example of a country that has invested significantly in human development.
Shittu also expressed concern over the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerians, saying he receives messages from students who struggle to meet basic needs, including feeding.
He said government policies should ultimately be assessed by their impact on ordinary citizens, particularly low-income families and their children.
The former minister called for stronger implementation of constitutional provisions relating to education, while urging the government to place greater emphasis on employment creation, vocational training and basic welfare.
He argued that sustained investment in education would also help address future social challenges by equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to national development.
