President Bola Tinubu has drawn widespread criticism after a video clip from his state visit to France showed him telling French President Emmanuel Macron that an African child assured of a good sandwich or one egg a day in the classroom would have no fear of learning.
In the clip, Tinubu speaks about the importance of school feeding programs as a tool to improve education outcomes across Africa. He suggests that guaranteeing basic nutrition, specifically a sandwich or a single egg per day, would remove barriers to learning and give children the confidence to succeed in school.
His tone was earnest, and he appeared to be making the statement as part of a broader discussion on education and development.
However, Nigerians were quick to point out that the comment oversimplifies the deep and complex challenges facing the country’s education system. Many argued that hunger is just one of many problems, and that focusing on an egg or sandwich ignores critical issues like crumbling infrastructure, lack of teachers, insecurity, poor curriculum, and underfunding.
One user wrote, “So all our education problems will be solved with one egg? What about the schools with no roofs, no desks, no teachers?” Another said, “Children are being kidnapped from schools, teachers are on strike for months, and the president thinks an egg is the solution. This is not serious.”
A third commenter added, “He is in Paris talking about eggs while Nigerian students cannot even go to school because of bandits and fuel costs.”
Others mocked the statement outright, turning it into memes and jokes. One popular reply read, “Make I just boil one egg, carry am go school, then I go pass JAMB with 350. Na so e easy.”
Another said, “Egg na the new miracle worker. Forget WAEC, forget NECO, just give the pikin egg.” Some users created satirical graphics showing eggs as the answer to every national problem, from insecurity to inflation.
A few voices defended Tinubu, arguing that he was speaking specifically about nutrition and that hunger does affect a child’s ability to concentrate and learn.
They pointed out that school feeding programs have been effective in other countries and that ensuring children are fed is a legitimate part of improving education. One supporter posted, “He is not wrong. A hungry child cannot learn. Feeding programs work. Stop twisting his words.”
But even those who acknowledged the value of feeding programs criticized Tinubu for reducing the conversation to such a basic level, especially on an international stage.
They felt the statement made Nigeria look backward and its leadership out of touch. One commenter said, “Yes, feeding is important. But is that really what you lead with in Paris? Where is the talk about scholarships, digital learning, teacher training, or security?”
The timing of the statement has also drawn attention. Nigeria is currently grappling with severe economic hardship. Inflation is above 28 percent. Fuel and food prices have skyrocketed. Many families can barely afford one meal a day, let alone send their children to school with lunch. In that context, Tinubu’s reference to a sandwich or egg felt disconnected from the daily reality his citizens face.
Schools across northern Nigeria remain closed or underattended due to insecurity. Bandits have kidnapped hundreds of students in recent years, and parents are afraid to send their children to class.
Teachers in multiple states have gone on strike over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions. University lecturers have also staged prolonged strikes, leaving students stranded. Against this backdrop, the idea that an egg could solve the fear of learning seemed absurdly tone-deaf to many.
