David Williams
The Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, has described the education policies and interventions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as one of the most ambitious reform programmes in Nigeria’s history, citing increased funding, student loan initiatives and strategic investments in educational infrastructure as evidence of the government’s commitment to human capital development.
Olowolafe made the remarks on Saturday during the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Experience Centre at EKSU, Ado-Ekiti, commissioned by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The facility was delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Ekiti State Government as part of the First Lady’s one-day working visit to Ekiti State.Speaking at the event, the Chancellor said the achievements recorded by the Tinubu administration within less than three years had been transformational and far-reaching, particularly in the education sector.
According to him, the allocation of ₦3.52 trillion to education in the 2025 Federal Budget, the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the creation of new specialised universities reflected a deliberate effort to expand access to quality education and equip young Nigerians for future challenges.
He also described the ICT Experience Centre as an invaluable investment in the future of EKSU students, noting that it would provide them with the digital skills, exposure and competitive advantage required in today’s technology-driven world.
“We are here to open a door to digital literacy, digital fluency, and the kind of practical, future-ready education that our students need to compete and lead, not just in Nigeria, but across the world,” he said.
Olowolafe said it was heartwarming that the university’s 44-year-old dream of having a world-class ICT facility had finally become a reality through the intervention of Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the support of the Federal Government.
Earlier, the First Lady said the ICT Centre was conceived to improve educational opportunities and prepare young Nigerians for success in an increasingly digital economy.
According to her, the partnership between the Renewed Hope Initiative and TETFund is aimed at expanding access to technology-driven learning and equipping students with relevant digital skills.
She noted that the facility would serve as a hub for learning, research and innovation, while also encouraging creativity, entrepreneurship and practical problem-solving among students.
The First Lady added that technology remains a critical driver of national development and that investments in digital infrastructure are necessary to prepare Nigerian youths for global competitiveness.
The event was attended by the wife of the Vice-President, Hajia Nana Shettima; Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, and other dignitaries.
