Coinciding with the nationwide resumption of primary, secondary, and Federal Unity Colleges for a new academic session, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has renewed his firm pledge to overhaul Nigeria’s schooling system with free, compulsory, and quality education from primary school through the university level if elected president in 2027.
The human rights activist turned political leader restated that under a Sowore-led administration, access to learning will no longer depend on a family’s financial standing, asserting that “education is a fundamental right, not a privilege”.
- Scrapping Exam Fees: Parents will no longer pay for public examination fees, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), or UTME.
- Direct Semester Grants: Rejection of student loan schemes in favor of direct semester grants provided to public tertiary students to cover academic and living expenses.
- System Restructuring: Transitioning to a 5-5-4 model (5 years primary, 5 years secondary, and 4 years university) alongside establishing 2-year community colleges across all 774 Local Government Areas.
- Massive Funding Commitment: Dedicating 30 percent of the national budget strictly to public education to support digital classrooms, AI-powered learning clouds, free textbooks, and school feeding programs.
“NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. NO TALENT WASTED. NO FAMILY TOO POOR TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN,” Sowore stated, framing the education manifesto as a non-negotiable pillar of national economic transformation.
With millions of families currently grappling with inflation and skyrocketing school fees, Sowore’s renewed focus on grassroots education welfare aims to directly challenge the incumbent government’s policies as early 2027 campaign lines take shape.
