As Yaba College of Technology graduated 8,654 students from the 2023/2024 academic session, President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality, technology-driven education. He announced that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over ₦50 billion to 624,535 students across 303 tertiary institutions as of October 2025.
Speaking at the 37th convocation ceremony of the college recently, the president, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the scheme, an interest-free initiative, as a transformative tool for breaking financial barriers and ensuring equity for students, especially those from low-income families.
He also emphasised the introduction of the Students’ Venture Grant, designed to support innovative business ideas among undergraduates through a rigorous assessment process involving industry and academic experts.
He pointed out that the reforms were building “an education system that empowers young Nigerians with the skills, opportunities, and support they need to compete, innovate, and thrive in a dynamic global economy”.
Tinubu confirmed the federal government’s approval of the upgrade of the college to the Yaba Technical and Vocational University.
“The upgrade aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and is aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education by integrating hands-on training with advanced research to boost innovation, economic growth and national development,” said Tinubu
