Education key to Nigeria’s future, says minister

Nigeria's Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has called on state governments to prioritize increased investment in education, characterizing it as a catalytic investment crucial for Nigeria's future. He warned that the country's development cannot be sustained without a robust foundation in quality education.

“

Education is no longer simply a social service. Education is our strongest economic policy. It is our national security strategy. It is our industrial policy. It is our poverty reduction strategy. It is our innovation strategy. It is the foundation upon which the future prosperity of Nigeria will be built.

Alausa made this appeal in Abuja during a five-day executive retreat for Commissioners of Education, organized by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education in Nigeria (COSCEN) in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state governments. The retreat aims to reshape education at the sub-national level by integrating academic knowledge, technical infrastructure standards, and personal well-being insights.

The minister urged states to focus on quality, access, and infrastructure, advocating for investment in instructional materials, school facilities, and teacher recruitment. He also highlighted the importance of using school census data for improved planning and monitoring, asserting that strong basic education is fundamental to developing Nigeria's needed skilled workforce.

“

Every major reform we are implementing today is possible because of his unwavering support, strategic guidance, and steadfast confidence in the education sector.

"Education is no longer simply a social service. Education is our strongest economic policy. It is our national security strategy. It is our industrial policy. It is our poverty reduction strategy. It is our innovation strategy. It is the foundation upon which the future prosperity of Nigeria will be built," Alausa declared.

“

Transformation cannot occur without vision, but vision alone is insufficient. Transformation requires execution. Execution requires collaboration. And collaboration requires trust between the Federal Government and our State Governments.

He acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's unwavering support and strategic guidance for bold reforms and innovation within the education sector. Alausa stressed that transformation requires not only vision but also execution, which in turn demands collaboration and trust between the Federal Government and state governments. He noted that Nigeria's federal education system relies heavily on states for the implementation of education policies, as classrooms and teachers belong to the states, and basic and secondary education are largely managed at that level. "Therefore, if the States succeed, Nigeria succeeds. If the States fail, Nigeria fails," he stated, underscoring the shift towards a partnership model based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.

“

Therefore, if the States succeed, Nigeria succeeds. If the States fail, Nigeria fails.