The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election and convener of the Take It Back Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has pledged to make education free for all Nigerians if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Sowore made the promise while reacting to the controversy surrounding the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the activist and former presidential candidate criticised the rising cost of education in the country, describing access to education as a fundamental right that should not be determined by an individual’s financial status.
He assured Nigerians that if elected president in 2027, his administration would introduce a policy of free education from primary to tertiary level. He also pledged to abolish examination fees for public school students, including those charged for WAEC and NECO examinations.
According to Sowore, quality education should be accessible to every Nigerian child regardless of social or economic background, stressing that government has a responsibility to invest adequately in the education sector.
His comments come amid widespread public concern over reports of a proposed increase in WAEC and NECO examination fees, with many parents, students and education stakeholders expressing fears that higher costs could further limit access to education for children from low-income families.
Sowore has consistently advocated increased government investment in education, healthcare and other social services, maintaining that improving access to education is essential for national development and poverty reduction.
The AAC chieftain said that providing free education would form a key part of his administration’s agenda if Nigerians give him the mandate to lead the country in the 2027 presidential election.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
