ABEOKUTA— The Senator representing Ogun Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu has strongly criticized the trending street mentality that “education is a scam,” describing it as a dangerous narrative that threatens the future of Nigerian youths.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at a major educational engagement in Abeokuta, the federal lawmaker charged students across Ogun State to shift their focus back to academic excellence and moral courage.
He emphasized that despite current economic hardships, a solid education remains the only definitive “passport to sustainable development.”
Addressing a captivated audience of students, educators, and community leaders, Senator Salisu frowned at how easily young people dismiss formal learning.
To counter the narrative, he shared an intimate look into his own upbringing, revealing how deeply his perspective was shaped by his family four decades ago.
“My passion for education was forged by my parents’ counsel 46 years ago,” Senator Salisu shared. “Shortly after my mother’s passing, reality set in. I quickly realized that education was my only ticket, my only passport, to being relevant in modern society.”
He noted that Ogun State’s rich history of producing globally recognized leaders, professionals, and icons was entirely built on a foundation of rigorous schooling, a legacy that the current generation must fiercely protect
Curbing the Declining Enrollment
The Senator’s remarks follow recent warnings he raised regarding a noticeable dip in secondary school enrollment rates within the senatorial district.
By directly addressing the students, Salisu sought to restore confidence in the schooling system, aligning his grassroots outreach with ongoing federal initiatives like President Bola Tinubu’s student loan fund and comprehensive education reforms.
The lawmaker urged the youth to block out political distractions and the allure of quick wealth, reminding them that true power lies in digital literacy, intellectual competence, and academic discipline.
He concluded by promising that his office would continue to expand localized ICT laboratories, provide free registration materials, and fund digital skill workshops to ensure that no child in Ogun Central is left behind in the global digital economy.
