The Federal Ministry of Education, led by Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s education system at a recent Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Forum. The event outlined strategic priorities, introduced key initiatives, and addressed persistent challenges, particularly the high number of out-of-school children.
Dr. Alausa emphasized six priority areas, including reducing the number of out-of-school girls, strengthening quality assurance, and expanding access through national programs. Central to these efforts is the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), designed to shift Nigeria from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-driven one. NESRI focuses on improving literacy, digitizing education data, and reforming the curriculum.
Key milestones highlighted at the forum included the inauguration of 10 governing councils, approval of 11 new private universities, and the deployment of digital platforms for quality assurance. A major initiative, the LUMINAH Girls’ Dual Initiative, aims to ensure one million girls complete basic education by 2030 across 12 pilot states. The AGILE project, which began in 18 states, has been extended to 11 more.
Dr. Alausa also raised concern about the 15 million out-of-school children and 45 million classified as learning poor. Through NESRI, 25,000 children have been integrated into formal education, while 4,000 Tsangaya teachers have been trained to support inclusive learning.
The forum also emphasized progress in technical and vocational education. Partnerships with local and international bodies are enhancing TVET and STEM programs. Enrolment in health-related courses has jumped from 28,000 to 115,000, and 18 institutions have been selected for high-impact development.
Digitally, over 202,000 students have benefited from the education data repositioning initiative, reducing reliance on foreign statistics. Additionally, 3,198 teachers have been trained in online digital quality assurance, supported by a revised primary curriculum and a new teacher development framework.
A notable development was the launch of a National Policy on Anti-Bullying in Schools. Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, inaugurated the Anti-Bullying Committee, including key stakeholders like Hajia Binta Abdulkadir and Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, to enforce practical anti-bullying measures nationwide.
In her remarks, Prof. Ahmad stressed the need for citizen involvement and collective action to revive the education sector. She urged communities to support awareness efforts and help create a safe, inclusive learning environment.
Permanent Secretary Mr. Abel Olumiyiwa Enitan praised the Ministers’ dedication and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to educational reform. The forum concluded with interactive sessions where participants discussed issues like migrating exams to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) and concerns raised by the ASUU chairman.
The engagement marked a renewed push for equity, inclusiveness, and excellence across Nigeria’s education sector.
Elijah Adeyemi
