Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to revitalising public universities is already producing positive results.

She stated this during the combined 50th anniversary and 42nd convocation ceremony of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), on Saturday, where she represented the President.

Ahmad highlighted the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention to help students continue their studies without financial constraints.

“As part of efforts to ensure more students achieve their educational dreams, President Tinubu introduced NELFUND to enable young Nigerians to pursue their studies without financial constraints,” she said.

She also disclosed that the Federal Government had earmarked ₦120 billion for vocational education as part of its commitment to expanding access to quality education.

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, pledged stronger collaboration with the university in innovation, skills development, and educational reform.

He said his administration had settled ₦1.845 billion in accumulated tuition fees for Sokoto medical students studying locally and abroad.

He announced a Hajj seat as a special reward for the university’s best graduating student, Abdullahi Sherif, who graduated from the Department of Microbiology with a 4.92 CGPA.

Earlier, UDUS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba, commended President Tinubu’s education policies, noting that improved funding frameworks and policy reforms were enhancing academic quality and institutional autonomy.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of President Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Oba of Lagos (Chancellor of the University), members of the National Assembly, diplomats, traditional rulers, senior academics, and alumni.

Three personalities were honoured: former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruku Yahaya (retd), who received a Doctor of Science degree; Islamic scholar, Sheikh Aminu Durawa, who received a Doctor of Letters; and Prof. Dejo Abdulrahman, who was conferred Emeritus Professor for his contributions to the institution.