Tinubu Says He Worked as Taxi Driver in US to Finance University Education

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recounted how he worked as a taxi driver and took on other jobs in the United States to finance his university education, saying the experience shaped his understanding of the financial challenges students face.

Tinubu made the disclosure while explaining his administration’s student loan programme, which is designed to help Nigerian students access higher education regardless of their financial circumstances.

According to the President, he initially postponed starting school for several months after arriving in the United States to save enough money for his education.

He said that while living in Chicago, he took up different jobs, including driving a taxi, to raise money for tuition, accommodation and other living expenses.

“I was once a taxi driver in America. Those experiences have remained with me and I understand the pressure of managing education costs while studying,” Tinubu said.

He added that his personal experience reinforced his belief that financial difficulties should not prevent young Nigerians from pursuing higher education.

“Education created opportunities in my own life and I believe Nigerian children should have similar access regardless of where they are born or their parents’ financial situation,” he stated.

The President cited his experience as one of the reasons education remains a priority for his administration, pointing to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as part of its efforts to reduce the financial burden on students.

Tinubu said NELFUND had provided more than N372 billion in student loans to cover institutional fees and upkeep, with the aim of helping beneficiaries remain in school.

The programme is intended to widen access to higher education by providing financial assistance to eligible students who might otherwise struggle to meet the cost of their studies.