The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress and prominent human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has announced a highly ambitious education reform package ahead of the 2027 general election, promising completely free education from nursery school up to the university level alongside the total removal of fees for national public examinations such as WAEC and NECO. Sowore disclosed the sweeping policy proposal on Monday while presenting what he described as his administration’s foundational education blueprint for Nigeria if elected to the presidency in 2027.
The activist-turned-politician maintained that access to quality education should never depend on a family’s financial status, insisting that every single Nigerian child deserves an unhindered opportunity to learn without facing steep economic barriers. While unveiling the details of the plan, Sowore stated that no government under his administration would ever ask a child to pay WAEC, NECO, or any other public examination fee, asserting that education must be treated as a fundamental right rather than a luxury privilege. He described the policy as a revolutionary commitment to build a nation where no child’s future is determined by poverty.
The published policy document contains a broad range of radical proposals aimed at completely overhauling the country’s struggling education sector. At the absolute center of the structural plan is a firm commitment to provide zero-cost education at all levels, from early childhood learning through to tertiary institutions. To alleviate the financial burden on students in public higher institutions, Sowore proposed the introduction of direct semester grants intended to help learners cover their essential academic materials and daily living expenses.
As part of the systemic reforms, the candidate outlined an altered educational timeline consisting of five years of primary education, five years of secondary education, and four years of standard university study. He further proposed the establishment of community colleges in every local government area across the federation, which would offer specialized two-year associate degree programmes and targeted technical training. The manifesto also places a heavy emphasis on expanding early childhood education through properly equipped nursery and pre-primary schools in rural and urban communities alike.
Modern technology features prominently throughout the proposal. Sowore promised to aggressively introduce digital classrooms, virtual laboratories, online libraries, and high-speed internet access across public schools. He also proposed the integration of coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and data science education into the national curriculum from an early stage. Under this plan, technical and vocational education would receive significant attention, with training programmes targeted at emerging sectors such as renewable energy, manufacturing, modern agriculture, aviation, maritime services, and software engineering. Additionally, he proposed converting all existing polytechnics and monotechnics into full-fledged universities.
The manifesto places a strong emphasis on teacher welfare, promising significantly improved salaries, housing support, research opportunities, and continuous professional development for educators. On university administration, Sowore pledged greater institutional independence, promising academic, financial, and administrative autonomy for universities while maintaining strict accountability and transparency. The document also advocates for the protection of academic freedom and student union activities, asserting that campuses must remain centers of free expression.
The infrastructure component of the proposal promises the construction of modern classrooms, laboratories, hostels, sports facilities, and arts centers with reliable access to clean water, electricity, and internet services. Student welfare programmes were also highlighted, including school feeding initiatives, health services, counselling support, and mental health services. Furthermore, the policy document ensures that students with special needs receive adequate support through accessible facilities, assistive technologies, Braille resources, and sign language services.
