Olalekan Smart Edwards, leader of The Natives, a cultural coalition representing various ethnic groups, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu will reap significant electoral benefits from their current investments in the education sector. Edwards, who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of a magazine and an award presentation organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), described the government’s education-driven policies as a turning point that will influence the choices of young voters in the 2027 elections.
He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) championed by President Tinubu and the First Lady’s initiative to mobilise resources for the completion of the National Library as landmark achievements. According to him, these interventions stand out because previous administrations failed to adequately fund education, leaving many Nigerians unable to pursue their academic aspirations. “Education, once given, cannot be taken away from you; hence, the Tinubu family deserves commendation,” Edwards said, stressing that the reforms were already making a visible impact.
Edwards, who also referenced his global business engagements, remarked that Nigeria’s new direction was attracting interest from international investors. He noted that alongside education reforms, positive strides were being recorded in oil, agriculture, and environmental restoration, pointing to the president’s attention to the Ogoni report and the establishment of the Ogoni University as examples of concrete progress. “This man is serious,” he said, insisting that the president’s leadership was beginning to restore confidence across sectors.
Speaking on the mood among young people, Edwards maintained that hope was gradually being restored, with many now seeing “light at the end of the tunnel.” He urged students and youth organisations to engage constructively with government policies and explore how these reforms could benefit their communities. He added that the policies currently being implemented were not just symbolic but life-changing, particularly for students who now have more access to schooling opportunities.
Edwards expressed confidence that the president’s record in education would play a decisive role in the 2027 general elections. “For that, you can already know there’s no controversy. Bola Ahmed Tinubu should get the students’ vote massively in 2027,” he said. According to him, while the president has opened doors through policy reforms, the First Lady has complemented those efforts by prioritising infrastructure that supports learning. To support this, Edwards announced a donation of six million naira to the National Library project through NANS, describing it as part of his organisation’s commitment to strengthening education in Nigeria.
The coalition leader concluded that the administration’s emphasis on education was setting a new standard for leadership and would be remembered as one of the strongest platforms on which President Tinubu would seek re-election.
