No nation can survive without education, Says Gbajabiamila

By Christiana Ekpa

Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has declared education the most powerful instrument for Nigeria’s survival and global competitiveness, urging sustained investment to reposition the country’s schools for the future.
Gbajabiamila made the assertion on Monday at the 2026 International Day for Education Conference themed, “Re-imagining the Future of Education in Nigeria: Collaborative Solutions for a Brighter Tomorrow.”
In his goodwill message, he commended Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for convening the conference and demonstrating what he described as a strong commitment to national development through education.
According to him, education is not just another sector of the economy but a matter of national survival for Nigeria as Africa’s most populous nation.
“Education is the bridge between potential and productivity; between aspiration and achievement,” Gbajabiamila said, stressing that no country can compete globally without sustained investment in learning.
Reflecting on his tenure as Speaker of the 9th House, he recalled sponsoring the Students’ Loans Bill to ensure that no qualified Nigerian is denied tertiary education due to financial hardship. He emphasised that access to education should be based on merit and potential, not privilege.
He noted that within the first three months of the current administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the bill, leading to the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund—an initiative he described as a clear demonstration that education is central to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Gbajabiamila also praised the 10th House of Representatives for intensifying oversight on tertiary education funding, promoting student welfare, and advancing reforms aimed at improving accountability in the sector.
“The parliament is not merely a law-making institution but a strategic partner in shaping Nigeria’s future,” he said, assuring continued support for education in his role as Chief of Staff.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and produce actionable recommendations to enhance funding efficiency, strengthen oversight, and ensure that education laws align with current realities.
“Nigeria’s brightest tomorrow will be built in the classrooms we strengthen today,” he added.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Speaker on International Cooperation and Educational Development, Abisoye Da Rocha-Afodu, said the International Day of Education was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to recognise education as a fundamental human right.
She lamented that Nigeria currently has over 20 million out-of-school children—the highest globally—while grappling with challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, poor teacher welfare, outdated curricula, and limited access to technology.
According to her, the conference was designed to convene lawmakers, policymakers, development partners, and key stakeholders to identify practical and sustainable solutions.