The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking during a Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Forum recently, he outlined six priority areas under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at shifting Nigeria from a resource-dependent to a knowledge-driven economy.
NESRI focuses on literacy improvement, data digitisation, and access to quality education.
Key achievements highlighted include the inauguration of governing councils for 10 new universities, licensing of 11 private universities, and deployment of digital platforms for quality assurance.
The LUMINAH Girls’ Dual Initiative, targeting one million girls in 12 pilot states by 2030, and the expansion of the AGILE project from 18 to 29 states, were also noted.
The minister expressed concern over 15 million out-of-school children and 45 million are classified as learning poor.
Through NESRI, 25,000 children have been integrated into formal education, and 4,000 Tsangaya teachers trained to support inclusivity.
Technical education was also emphasised, with significant growth in health-related enrolment—from 28,000 to 115,000 students—and 18 institutions selected for high-impact development.
Partnerships are underway to strengthen TVET and STEM programs.
Over 202,000 students have benefited from the Education Data Repositioning Initiative. Additionally, 3,198 teachers have been trained through a digital quality assurance program, supported by a revised primary curriculum and a new teacher development framework.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, launched the National Policy on Anti-Bullying in Schools and inaugurated the Anti-Bullying Committee, urging community participation to curb school violence and promote inclusive education.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Abel Olumiyiwa Enitan, commended the two ministers’ dedication and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to educational transformation.
The session ended with an interactive dialogue, underscoring a renewed drive towards equity, inclusiveness, and excellence in Nigeria’s education sector.
