Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that the Tinubu administration's massive N3.5 trillion allocation to education in the 2025 budget represents a fundamental shift in Nigeria's development strategy, placing knowledge and human capital at the forefront of national progress.
Education as the Cornerstone of Development
Speaking on Saturday, November 29, 2025, during the University of Maiduguri's 50th anniversary celebration in Maiduguri, Shettima emphasized that Nigeria cannot effectively compete globally with underfunded universities. He stated that education now forms the core of President Bola Tinubu's development and security agenda.
"Today, there is a shared national understanding that education is the most reliable vehicle to development," Shettima declared. "It fuels economic mobility, lifts families out of poverty, strengthens social cohesion, deepens democratic culture, and fortifies national security."
Targeted Interventions and Educational Reforms
The Vice President detailed how the education budget, representing 7.3% of total national expenditure, includes specific interventions designed to transform the sector. For the first time in years, universities are receiving support to develop mechanized farming programs, while new grants are being rolled out to strengthen medical education.
Shettima highlighted the administration's focus on practical skills, noting that entrepreneurship initiatives are being expanded to equip students for a technology-driven economy. "We are preparing our young people for a knowledge-driven world, not with the tools of yesterday, but with the skills of tomorrow," he affirmed.
The government is addressing persistent challenges including:
- Decades of chronic underfunding
- Brain drain affecting academic institutions
- Outdated curricula requiring modernization
- Inadequate research capacity
- Frequent industrial strikes
Borno's Educational Resilience Against Insurgency
Shettima highlighted the devastating impact of insurgency on education in Northeast Nigeria, revealing that more than 500 schools were attacked in Borno State between 2009 and 2021. Despite this challenge, the state has demonstrated remarkable recovery with 877,777 learners currently enrolled in public schools.
The state government has committed over N69.81 billion to education, paid WAEC fees for more than 26,000 students, and spends approximately N122 million daily on school feeding programs. "When terrorists attacked our schools, they were trying to kill the future. But Borno chose hope over fear and education over darkness," Shettima stated.
Regional Support and Private Sector Partnerships
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, commended UNIMAID's contributions to human capital development and announced scholarships for 200 lecturers to pursue advanced studies. Adamawa Governor Umaru Fintiri contributed N1.8 billion on behalf of Northeast states to the university's endowment fund.
Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammed Mele called for deeper private-sector partnerships to sustain UNIMAID's achievements. The event attracted prominent dignitaries including former Vice President Babagana Kingibe, Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, and traditional rulers.
Shettima described UNIMAID, established during the Third National Development Plan (1975-1980), as "a lighthouse in the Sahel" that has maintained its educational mission despite years of conflict, embodying the resilience that President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to foster nationwide.
