The Renewed Hope Project 2027, a group backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election, recently organized a "One Million Student Movement" solidarity march in Abuja. The event, which drew a large crowd of students, aimed to appreciate the President for creating an enabling environment for more Nigerian young men and women to enroll in school through favorable policies. According to the group's Director General, Hon. Dauda Salisu, the organization has registered about seven million students on its platform and plans to use its network across tertiary institutions to mobilize more support for the President.
The group has coordinators in institutions across the 36 states of the federation, and similar solidarity marches are expected to be organized nationwide. Salisu stated that the group would use its coordinators to mobilize students across the nation. He also highlighted the administration's achievements in the education sector, citing the ongoing student-loan programme, which has attracted support from students participating in the mobilisation. Salisu dismissed claims that Tinubu's policies had made education more difficult for students, saying many students were benefiting from the administration's interventions.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (rtd), said the mobilisation was part of efforts to take the campaign for Tinubu's second term to the grassroots. Jibrin emphasized that the group was highlighting the administration's interventions in education, including the student-loan programme administered by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). He urged Nigerians to give Tinubu another opportunity to govern the country, arguing that increased investment in tertiary institutions and technical education would equip graduates with skills to secure employment and become employers of labour.
The National Patron of the group, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud Mubi, popularly known as Isa Mambila, stated that the organisation had initially registered about 1.789 million students on its platform and was targeting 4.8 million. However, more students had recently indicated interest, and the target votes have now grown to 10 million nationwide. Mubi noted that some students who would have dropped out of school due to inability to pay school fees now have hope of graduating and living a meaningful life, hence they have come out en masse to appreciate President Tinubu.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, called on Nigerians, particularly students, to support Tinubu's re-election bid, citing the administration's interventions in the education sector and the student-loan scheme. Sawyerr urged students to recognise the opportunities provided through the loan programme and other education-sector interventions as they make their choices in the 2027 election. He emphasized that the administration's efforts have positively impacted students, enabling them to access education and acquire skills.
According to figures provided by NELFUND, the Fund had, as of September 2026, processed about 1.66 million student-loan applications and disbursed ₦355.87 billion since opening its portal in May 2024. The NELFUND boss stated that over ₦192.89 billion had been paid as institutional fees to 319 tertiary institutions, while ₦162.98 billion had been disbursed directly to students as upkeep allowances. These figures demonstrate the significant impact of the student-loan programme on Nigerian students.
The Renewed Hope Project 2027's mobilisation efforts aim to secure a second term for President Tinubu, with a focus on his administration's achievements in the education sector. The group's efforts to engage students and highlight the benefits of the student-loan programme and other education-sector interventions are expected to contribute to the President's re-election bid. The group's target of 10-12 million votes nationwide underscores its commitment to supporting Tinubu's second term.
Key points
- The Renewed Hope Project 2027 aims to mobilize 10-12 million votes nationwide for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election.
- The group has registered about seven million students on its platform and plans to use its network across tertiary institutions to mobilize more support for the President.
- The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has processed about 1.66 million student-loan applications and disbursed ₦355.87 billion since opening its portal in May 2024.
