Education key to Nigeria’s future, says minister
July 28, 2026 5:07 pm
File photo: Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has called on state governments to prioritise increased investment in education, describing the sector as a catalytic investment in Nigeria’s future and warning that the country’s development cannot be sustained without a strong foundation in quality education.
Alausa made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the five-day executive retreat for Honourable Commissioners of Education in Nigeria, organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, state governments and the Ministry of Education.
The COSCEN Executive Retreat is a high-level forum for Honourable Commissioners of Education aimed at reshaping education at the sub-national level.
It combines academic knowledge, technical infrastructure standards, and insights on personal financial and health well-being to equip participants for effective leadership and lasting impact.
In his remarks, the minister charged states to prioritise quality, access and infrastructure, urging them to invest available resources in instructional materials, school facilities and teacher recruitment.
He also called for effective use of school census data to improve planning and monitoring, stressing that strong basic education is the foundation for developing the skilled workforce Nigeria needs.
The minister stated, “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.
“Every major reform we are implementing today is possible because of his unwavering support, strategic guidance, and steadfast confidence in the education sector.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us the political backing to pursue bold reforms. He has encouraged innovation. He has challenged us to think beyond incremental improvements and instead redesign the entire education ecosystem for the twenty-first century.
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 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. Nigeria operates a federal education system. While the Federal Ministry provides policy direction, standards, and strategic interventions, it is at the sub-national level that education truly comes alive.
” The classrooms belong to the States. The teachers belong to the States. Basic education is fundamentally driven by the States. Secondary education is largely managed by the States. Therefore, if the States succeed, Nigeria succeeds. If the States fail, Nigeria fails. This is why we have deliberately shifted from a command-and-control relationship to a partnership model based on mutual respect, shared ownership, and collective accountability.”
Alausa said states had embraced digital data systems and evidence-based decision-making, stressing that education remained a shared national priority beyond political affiliations.
He said Nigeria was moving away from planning based on assumptions, noting that reliable data was now critical for effective resource allocation, school planning and teacher recruitment.
The minister said, “Today, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is building one of Africa’s most comprehensive education data ecosystems through the National Education Data Infrastructure. NEDI is far more than another government database. It is the digital nervous system of Nigeria’s education sector. It is the first truly integrated national education information architecture designed to connect every level of education governance—from the individual learner to the national policymaker.
“For the first time in our history, we are integrating data from schools, Local Government Areas, States, and Federal institutions into one interoperable ecosystem. Every learner will have a unique Learner Identification Number, enabling us to follow educational progression throughout the learning journey.
“Every school will possess a verified digital identity. Every teacher will be digitally profiled. Every classroom, laboratory, library, water facility, sanitation facility, and infrastructure asset can now be mapped and monitored. This marks a fundamental shift from fragmented information systems to a unified national education intelligence platform.”
The minister said the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System would complement NEDI by providing real-time data to guide education decisions.
He said the system would help governments track teacher-pupil ratios, infrastructure gaps, enrolment, learning outcomes and other key indicators at state, local government and school levels.
According to him, DNEMIS would enable governments to identify challenges early and make decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
He continued, “One of the greatest strengths of NEDI and DNEMIS is accountability. Every investment can now be tracked, measured. evaluated, and verified. This enhances transparency, strengthens public confidence, and ensures that scarce public resources deliver maximum impact. It also empowers our State Governments.
“Governors no longer need to rely on anecdotal reports. Commissioners no longer need to wait months before obtaining performance reports. Evidence is available in near real time.
“Planning becomes proactive instead of reactive. Budgeting becomes strategic instead of historical. Resource allocation becomes equitable instead of arbitrary, and Development partners gain greater confidence because investments can be monitored transparently.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, however, data alone will not transform education. People transform education; leadership transforms education. Political will transforms education. That is why this retreat is so significant. Each Commissioner here is not simply administering schools. You are shaping the future competitiveness of your State. You are determining whether our children will thrive in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.”
Earlier, the former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, while delivering a paper titled Beyond Tenure: Leading Education Reform in the Era of Digital Disruption, urged Commissioners of Education and other stakeholders to prioritise instruction over infrastructure.
He stated, “We must pay serious attention to education. If I have my way, I would prioritise both private and public primary and secondary schools because the future of our children depends on the quality of education they receive. We cannot afford to create a society where children in private schools receive quality education while those in public schools are left behind. We must develop policies that provide equal opportunities for all our children.
“Secondly, I believe we should prioritise instruction over infrastructure. Too much emphasis is placed on infrastructure as a measure of progress. Governments can build classrooms, renovate schools and provide facilities, but the reality is that infrastructure alone does not guarantee quality education.
“We have seen schools with hundreds of classrooms where effective teaching and learning are still lacking. The quality of instruction is what truly makes the difference. A good teacher can leave a lasting impact on a child’s life, and many of us can still remember the teachers who taught and inspired us many years ago.
“Therefore, while infrastructure is important, we must place greater emphasis on the quality of teaching and learning. Instruction is superior to infrastructure, because it is the knowledge, skills and values imparted to children that ultimately determine the future of our society.”
The World Bank Country Director, Mathew Verghis, urged state governments to understand and comply with the requirements of the HOPE Education Programme, stressing that funding is tied to the achievement of specific targets and milestones.
Verghis said the programme is designed to address key challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, including out-of-school children, teacher shortages, weak data systems and poor learning outcomes.
The World Bank also urged states to prioritise the approval of teaching and learning materials and structured pedagogical packages to improve the quality of education and learning outcomes.
The event was attended by 25 State Commissioners of Education, as well as stakeholders from the World Bank, the Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics, and development issues. He specializes in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters. Dirisu’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and impactful journalism.
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