Fed Govt Invests over N1tr in Tertiary Education, Removes Financial Barriers, Says Alausa
The Federal Government has invested more than N1 trillion in the tertiary educational sector within two years, while removing financial barriers preventing qualified students from accessing higher education.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja, during a meeting with members of the National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy Education.
Alausa highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s educational reforms and infrastructural investments targeted toward expanding educational opportunities and strengthening human capital development nationwide.
According to him, the reforms are designed to ensure that no qualified Nigerian is denied access to higher education because of financial hardship, irrespective of family background or economic status.
He said the administration had deliberately removed long-standing financial obstacles that prevented many brilliant students from pursuing tertiary education, describing education as a fundamental national development.
”The President has opened up access to students so that not having money, or coming from an indigent family, will no longer stop anyone from achieving educational opportunities,” Alausa said.
The minister commended President Tinubu for prioritising education, saying that the reforms served as strategic investment in Nigeria’s youth and a deliberate effort to building a globally competitive and productive workforce.
He said students had emerged among the greatest beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Agenda, with the government backing its promises through unprecedented investments in infrastructure, teaching facilities and improved learning environments.
Alausa disclosed that the federal government had committed N250 billion to construct new hostels across tertiary institutions, significantly expanding accommodation capacity and improving students’ welfare nationwide.
He added that more than N150 billion had also been invested in rehabilitating hostels, classrooms, engineering workshops and other academic facilities to improve teaching, research and learning across public tertiary institutions.
He added that the present administration had invested over N130 billion in rehabilitating medical schools nationwide to improve healthcare training and address shortages in critical medical and allied health professions.
He further revealed that another N52 billion had been approved for modern equipment in 18 medical schools, while almost N30 billion was committed to establishing 11 medical simulation laboratories.
[7/30, 3:04 PM] Isaac Aqua: NUJ Raises Concerns Over Environmental Threats, Urges Urgent Action
By Missang Akpet
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, has called on the state government to urgently address the growing threat of erosion, environmental degradation and poor waste management across the state.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the council's July 2026 Congress held on Wednesday at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar. The congress was presided over by the State Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey.
The union expressed concern over the increasing cases of erosion, environmental degradation and indiscriminate construction on fragile areas and drainage channels, particularly in Calabar.
It urged the government to strengthen the enforcement of environmental and urban planning laws, halt illegal developments in high risk areas and implement proactive measures to tackle active erosion sites.
The communiqué also condemned the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains and waterways, describing it as a major cause of flooding in the Calabar metropolis. It called on relevant agencies to intensify the enforcement of environmental sanitation laws.
To address the erosion crisis, the union urged the government to revive and strengthen the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Programme, NEWMAP, or introduce a similar intervention programme to protect vulnerable communities.
The council commended its leadership for supporting members facing health challenges and appealed to the government, corporate organisations and well meaning individuals to assist an ailing member.
The union also reiterated the need for journalists to uphold responsible, factual and public interest journalism while reaffirming its commitment to press freedom, professional excellence, accountability and good governance in Cross River State.
