The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, appointed on October 23, 2024, has presented a comprehensive quarterly review of programmes under his leadership, outlining major reforms and interventions across Nigeria’s education sector.
According to the report, the ministry is implementing the Nigerian Education Sector Renewed Initiative (NESRI), a six-point reform agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria from a resource-driven economy to a knowledge-based one. The document noted that 14 months of sustained reforms have focused on expanding access to quality education in safe learning environments nationwide.
A key milestone recorded in the report is the formalisation of the agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which took effect on January 1, 2026. The agreement introduces a 40 percent increase in academic salaries, a revised remuneration structure, and a new professional cadre allowance for full-time professors and readers. A similar framework for polytechnics is currently being developed.
To strengthen transparency and accountability in tertiary institutions, the ministry launched the Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal (FTIGTP). The platform monitors funding allocations and performance indicators, with 47 of 67 federal universities and 35 of 39 polytechnics already integrated into the system.
In bridging digital learning gaps, the ministry reported deploying more than 1,000 smart boards to federal and state basic education schools under the Digitisation of Public Schools Initiative. Additionally, the Edurevamp mobile-based professional development platform has registered 37,000 teachers, with 18,000 fully enrolled for digital skills training and stipends.
Through collaboration with the UK-funded PLANE programme and telecommunications companies MTN and Airtel, 8,000 teachers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones will receive zero-rated internet access to support modern teaching practices.
Aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry has also rolled out social interventions, including a N2.55 billion menstrual health initiative titled “Flow with Confidence,” launched in Gombe. The programme aims to distribute over one million sanitary pads to 370,000 girls in rural communities to reduce school absenteeism.
The ministry further disclosed securing a major scholarship partnership with the Dangote Foundation, targeting three million young Nigerians. The initiative is set to support 170,000 young girls and more than one million students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM).
To alleviate transportation costs for students, the ministry distributed 240 electric tricycles and 12 solar-powered charging stations to 12 universities nationwide, projecting up to a 70 percent reduction in campus transportation expenses.
Addressing school security, the ministry partnered with the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to launch the School Safety Portal. Currently, 15,000 schools are registered on the platform, with 141,000 schools geolocated for real-time monitoring and emergency response coordination.
In the technical education sector, N2.97 billion has been disbursed to 160,000 youths under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, alongside an additional N4.6 billion allocated to skills training centres. The ministry has also implemented Biometric Attendance Verification across TVET centres to ensure transparency in stipend payments.
International collaboration remains a priority, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Birmingham under Nigeria’s Transnational Education framework. The partnership will facilitate undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in STEMM disciplines. Dr. Alausa also visited Singapore to explore bilateral cooperation on technical school leadership training and the adoption of global best practices for TVET institutions.
The ministry stated that the National Council on Education recently reaffirmed English as the language of instruction, suspending the previous National Language Policy to streamline the national curriculum.
Additionally, Dr. Alausa convened a roundtable discussion with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and vice-chancellors of federal universities to formally transfer documentation and ownership of CBN-supported education intervention projects to beneficiary institutions, ensuring sustainability and institutional continuity.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), also launched a N50 million grant scheme aimed at mentorship and capacity development for tertiary students, attracting 30,639 registrations since inception.
