Over one million students from polytechnics and technical colleges across Nigeria are set to march in Abuja on Wednesday, June 12, 2025, in a show of appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s bold reforms in the education sector.
Organized by the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the march, themed “Adupe Mr. President”, is described as “a march of gratitude, not protest.”
Students from all ND/HND-awarding institutions nationwide are expected to converge at the Unity Fountain and proceed peacefully to the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
According to the organizers, the decision to march stems from several landmark interventions by the federal government under President Tinubu, which they say are transforming Nigeria’s technical education landscape:
Students in technical colleges now receive ₦45,000 monthly grants—not loans—as support from the federal government.
₦2.52 trillion was allocated to the education sector in the 2025 budget, marking a 133% increase from 2023 and the highest in Nigeria’s history.
₦120 billion has been injected into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program to shift the national focus from paper qualifications to skills and productivity.
₦683.4 billion approved for TETFund projects in 2024 to strengthen tertiary education.
Over ₦104 billion disbursed to more than 600,000 students through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Launch of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program and the $617.7 million iDICE initiative to equip students with digital and entrepreneurial skills for the tech economy.
A new education model emphasizing 80% practical and 20% theory, designed to enhance employability and global competitiveness.
Comrade Esihofune Paul Oghayan, President of NAPS, emphasized that the event is not politically motivated, but a “voice of gratitude and a march of solidarity” by Nigerian students.
“This is our way of saying thank you to Mr. President for prioritizing education, particularly technical and vocational learning,” he stated.
Security has been assured for all participants, and students have been encouraged to wear their school colors, carry banners of hope, and express their appreciation peacefully.
