Prof. James Tooley
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the House of Representatives in the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Orji Kanu Emmanuel, has received a public endorsement from renowned British education scholar, researcher and entrepreneur, Professor James Tooley, ahead of the January 2027 election.
The endorsement came at the 2026 National Conference of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where teachers, school leaders and educational entrepreneurs from across Nigeria gathered.
Speaking to the delegates, Professor Tooley described Orji as a man of integrity, character and decency, saying his long-standing relationship with the educationist had given him every reason to trust him.
“I have known Orji for 26 years now. I realise how lucky you are as an association of school leaders and entrepreneurs to have him as your president,” Tooley told the gathering.
He further expressed confidence in Orji’s transition from education advocacy into politics, saying his character and track record give him a strong foundation to serve the people.
What makes his endorsement significant?
Professor James Nicholas Tooley is a British education scholar, researcher and educational entrepreneur internationally recognised for his pioneering work on low-cost private education for poor and low-income communities, particularly in developing countries.
He is Professor of Educational Entrepreneurship and Policy at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom. Before joining Buckingham, he served as Professor of Education Policy at Newcastle University and held academic and research positions associated with institutions including the Universities of Oxford and Manchester.
At Newcastle University, Tooley was associated with the E. G. West Centre, which focuses on educational choice, competition and entrepreneurship in education.
Tooley joined the University of Buckingham in 2019 as Professor of Educational Entrepreneurship and Policy. He subsequently served in senior academic leadership roles, including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), before becoming Vice-Chancellor in 2020.
He is particularly renowned for his research into low-cost private schools serving poor families across Africa and Asia. His work has taken him to countries including India, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and China, examining how affordable private education can expand access to quality learning.
It was during his work in Nigeria that Tooley developed a relationship with Orji, who was then serving as National President of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED).
The relationship, according to the account presented at the conference, contributed to educational initiatives that included a free certification programme for Nigerian teachers, with participating teachers also receiving tablets to support learning and teaching.
Tooley was subsequently honoured as an International Patron of AFED and described the period of the association’s leadership under Orji as a “golden period.”
Speaking further about the ADC candidate, Tooley said:
“President of AFED, the Association for Formidable Educational Development, Hon. Orji Kanu Emmanuel, is a man of great honour, great integrity and decency. He is very kind; he is a great entrepreneur. And I classify him as a dear friend. I trust him as a politician. You may not have others like him.”
The endorsement is coming as Orji intensifies his political campaign for the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, where he has been presenting his experience in education, entrepreneurship, policy advocacy and community development as part of his credentials for public office.
For his supporters, the endorsement from an internationally recognised education scholar who has known Orji for more than two decades provides further validation of the candidate’s character, leadership experience and record in the education sector.
By Innocent Onoh
