Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress and leader of the Take It Back Movement, has vowed to provide free education for every Nigerian citizen if he wins the 2027 general election. He shared this vision on social media following public outcry regarding the proposed hike in fees for the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council.
Previously, the Federal Ministry of Education intended to raise these examination costs from N27,500 to N50,000. Widespread public disapproval led the government to pause the price increase. In response, Sowore declared that his administration would eliminate all public examination fees entirely.
Sowore emphasized that education should be viewed as a fundamental right rather than a luxury. His proposed policy aims to offer free, high-quality schooling from early childhood through the university level. The plan includes investments in digital learning tools, modernized classrooms, and competitive salaries for educators, while ensuring that a child’s academic prospects are not limited by their family’s economic status. Currently, the federal government has not provided an update on the status of examination fees following the suspension.
