“The situation in the country isn’t so appalling at the moment, but parents need to improvise to make ends meet with the help of families and friends,” stated Otunba Bestman Nze Jumbo...
Discussing the financial burden of school fees, Jumbo shared his personal experience: “The pressure of school fees is killing many parents in Nigeria, and more often than not, they are unaffordable. When I brought my kids back from South Africa, I enrolled them in an expensive private school in Abuja. The stress of paying the fees was very tough on me, as I couldn’t keep up with the payments. The pride of saying ‘my kids attend British Royal Oak School’ made me keep running kirakita, but the effect on my health was severe.”
Jumbo eventually decided to make a change. “I pulled them out after conducting thorough research on public schools in Lagos and Abuja. I enrolled them in a public school in Abuja and arranged for private tutors to teach them at home. This drastically reduced my stress because I understand that brilliance isn’t taught in school but is in-built.”
“I even opened bank accounts for the kids, and part of the money I was paying to the private school went there instead. They took the GCE and scored good grades in JAMB while in SS classes. Today, they are doing great academically.”
He encourages other parents to consider similar steps. “Let’s be alive for our kids by reducing the burden and pressure of private school fees. Public schools in some parts of the country have produced some of the best brains in Nigeria, such as His Excellency GCFR, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to mention a few.”
“I know many people are almost falling into depression because of private school fees. Forget pride and stay alive for these kids. Pull them out of those schools inducing high blood pressure and enroll them in public schools. Hire private tutors if needed—there’s no shame in it.”
“This is my life-saving advice,” Jumbo concluded. “Na me Irumole talk am.”
