Tinubu made the disclosure in a post on his X account on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, while highlighting his administration’s efforts to improve access to education in Nigeria.

According to the President, he had to postpone the commencement of his studies for several months after arriving in the United States because he needed time to save enough money.

He explained that after arriving in Chicago, he took up different jobs to support himself and pay his educational expenses.

“When I first arrived in the United States as a young man, I drove a taxi to earn money for my education. I even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough,” Tinubu said.

The President added that his experience made him understand the difficulties students face in meeting tuition, accommodation and other living expenses while pursuing higher education.

He said the challenges he encountered have remained with him and strengthened his belief that every Nigerian child deserves access to quality education, regardless of where they come from or their parents’ financial circumstances.

Speaking on his administration’s education initiatives, Tinubu disclosed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had provided more than ₦372 billion in student loans to support institutional fees and upkeep allowances.

NELFUND was established under the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, which Tinubu signed into law in April 2024. The scheme provides interest-free financial assistance to eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

Under the programme, approved institutional fees are paid directly to the respective schools, while maintenance allowances are transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

The President’s disclosure has brought renewed attention to the importance of student financial support and the challenges many young people face in pursuing higher education.

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