Sowore Unveils Free Education Blueprint, Pledges to Abolish National Examination Fees Ahead of 2027 Polls

Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore has released a comprehensive education manifesto ahead of the 2027 general election, promising entirely free public education alongside the complete abolition of national examination fees.

Sowore detailed the 20-point policy blueprint via social media on Monday, stating that under his administration, the federal government would absorb all costs for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the National Examination Council (NECO), and other public assessments.

“Education will be free because knowledge is a right, not a privilege,” Sowore stated. “This is not a promise of politics. It is a revolutionary commitment to build a nation where no child’s future is determined by poverty.”

Structural Realignment and Digital Integration

The ambitious policy platform proposes a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s academic timeline, moving to a 5-5-4 system: five years of primary school, five years of secondary school, and a four-year university degree cycle. Additionally, the manifesto outlines plans to establish community colleges offering two-year associate degrees in every Local Government Area, while upgrading all existing polytechnics and monotechnics into full-fledged universities.

The document emphasizes a heavy reliance on technology to modernize Nigerian classrooms. Key tech-driven proposals include:

Advanced Curriculum: Introducing coding, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, data science, and cybersecurity starting at the primary school level.

National Innovation Cloud: Launching a unified digital network providing students and educators nationwide with open access to academic journals, virtual laboratories, and AI-assisted learning tools.

Smart Infrastructure: Equipping campuses with solar energy, high-speed internet, and AI-powered smart hostels.

Welfare and Institutional Autonomy

The blueprint also addresses long-standing labor and student welfare crises within the sector. It promises substantial salary increases and housing benefits for educators, alongside the implementation of semester-based stipends for public tertiary students to mitigate living expenses. Furthermore, the manifesto guarantees complete financial and administrative autonomy for universities and pledges legislative protection for independent student unionism.

With education spending, out-of-school children, and high testing fees remaining critical themes for voters, the newly released manifesto aims to shift policy debates as political coalitions begin organizing for the next election cycle.