FG Unveils Major Funding Support for Safe Schools and Student Protection Programs

The Federal Government has restated its dedication to providing safer and more secure learning environments for students across the country, reaffirming support for ongoing national education and security programmes.

The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, made the announcement in Abuja during the 2025 International Students’ Day celebration hosted by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement.

Uzoka-Anite explained that the government will continue to prioritise critical investments in the education sector, including funding for schools, teachers’ welfare, school-feeding programmes and nationwide safety initiatives such as the Safe School Initiative. She noted that protecting young learners remains a strategic national priority.

According to her, the potential, creativity and resilience of Nigerian students play a major role in shaping the country’s human capital and long-term development. She added that the government recognises students not just for their academic achievements, but as central contributors to Nigeria’s future.

At the event, the Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, highlighted the transformative role of education in national growth. He emphasised that societies advance when young people are empowered with the right skills, digital tools and support systems.

Asefon announced that top-performing students from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and the Nigerian Law School received scholarships, laptops, financial rewards and other empowerment resources. Outstanding secondary-school students were each awarded ₦100,000 to encourage excellence and innovation.

He added that the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening student welfare, enhancing academic standards and promoting inclusive educational development. Asefon urged the awardees to continue demonstrating leadership, innovation and responsibility in their communities.

International Students’ Day is marked globally in honour of the 1939 incident in Prague, where student activists were targeted during the Nazi occupation. Since 1941, it has served as a symbol of global student solidarity and advocacy.

In Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students commemorated the 2025 edition with the theme “Empowering Students to be Agents of Change,” focusing on patriotism, productivity, student rights and national unity.