Don’t Turn Education Into Debt Burden, Shittu Tells FG

Former Minister of Communications, Dr Adebayo Shittu, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise education as a fundamental right rather than placing additional financial burdens on students through loans.

Shittu made the call on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The former minister said government policies on education should focus on expanding opportunities for children from poor and disadvantaged families, stressing that access to education should be treated alongside employment, healthcare and other basic needs.

Shittu questioned the rationale behind relying heavily on student loans at a time when many Nigerian graduates are struggling to secure employment years after completing their studies.

“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.

He urged Nigerians to examine the provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to education, arguing that 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,” Shittu said.

The former minister also advocated a stronger communal approach to educating children, recalling the traditional practice where communities collectively contributed to the upbringing and education of young people.

“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,” he said.

Shittu said the debate over education funding was ultimately a question of government priorities and how available resources were allocated.

According to him, previous administrations invested in free education, healthcare and other social services, adding that Nigeria has the resources and human capacity to improve access to education.

He cited Rwanda as an example of an African country that, according to him, has made significant investments in human development.

The former minister also expressed concern over the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerians, saying he regularly receives messages from students who struggle to meet basic needs, including feeding.

He maintained that government policies should be assessed by their impact on ordinary citizens, particularly poor families and their children.

Shittu therefore called for stronger implementation of constitutional provisions on education, while urging the Federal Government to pay greater attention to employment, vocational training and basic welfare.

He argued that sustained investment in education would help equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to society and reduce future social challenges.