Tertiary institutions

By Chibuike Nwabuko

In the quiet corners of our society, the corridors of power and influence are filled with individuals whose rise to prominence was made possible by one thing: free education. Today, these same beneficiaries of a system that afforded them equal opportunities have, paradoxically, made quality education an elusive dream for the children of the poor. It’s a bitter irony that cuts deep into the fabric of social equity.

For a significant portion of the 20th century, many countries, including Nigeria, had robust public education systems that were either free or heavily subsidized. The governments of the time recognized that education was not merely a privilege for the wealthy but a right for all, and the foundation of national development. Students from the most humble beginnings could attend school, progress to universities, and even achieve degrees at little to no cost. Many of today’s leaders, professionals, and intellectuals owe their successes to this system.

Fast forward to the present day, and the story is drastically different. The educational landscape is now a tale of two worlds — one where the wealthy enjoy access to the best private institutions, and the other where the poor are often denied even the most basic opportunities for learning. Ironically, many of those in positions of power today, who are responsible for setting policies and shaping the future of education, were once the beneficiaries of free or affordable schooling.

One must wonder: if education had been priced out of reach back in their time, would many of them be where they are today? The answer is likely a resounding no. It is particularly painful to note that many of these individuals came from backgrounds of poverty or modest means. The very policies they champion today — skyrocketing tuition fees, cuts in education subsidies, and reduced support for public schools — are the same policies that would have denied them their own educational advancement had they been in place years ago.

Take, for instance, the story of a prominent politician who, during his school years, could not afford more than one pair of shoes. He attended university on government scholarships, with a stipend that covered his living expenses. Today, most of these set of leaders are at the helm of affairs in public offices but rather than make and support policies to reflect what they benefitted growing up, they now preside over governments that slash funding to public universities, secondary and primary schools while fees climb to unbearable heights. The children of today’s poor may not be as lucky as they were. Their dreams are being extinguished by the rising cost of tuition and the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor.

This trend is not limited to Nigeria. Across the globe, education has become a commodity, and access to it is increasingly determined by one’s ability to pay. For those who can’t afford the rising costs, the future becomes bleak, as their chances of breaking out of poverty diminish.

How did we get here? How did we move from a society that believed in free and accessible education for all, to one where a child’s access to education is determined by their family’s bank balance? The answers are complex but rooted in political decisions, economic priorities, and a shift in societal values. But, at the heart of it, one fact remains: those who benefited from free education have largely forgotten the debt they owe to that system. They have forgotten that without it, they might not be the CEOs, governors, and ministers they are today.

It is high time for a reawakening. If these leaders were to pause and reflect on their own journeys, they might realize that by making education inaccessible to the poor, they are denying the next generation the same opportunities they were given. They are stifling potential, eroding social mobility, and widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The cost of education has become one of the greatest threats to equality in our time. If nothing is done, it will continue to deepen the divide between the rich and the poor, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that will be difficult to break.

In the end, those who enjoyed the gift of free education must realize that they now have the power to give it back. They must recognize that education is not just an investment in individuals but in the nation itself. By making it accessible once again, they can ensure that every child, no matter their background, has a chance to succeed. For if they do not, they would have not only failed the next generation but will have dishonored the legacy of the free education system that brought them to where they are today.