WorldStage— Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, CON, has declared that Nigeria’s education reforms can only succeed through stronger collaboration between the Federal and State Governments and a deliberate shift to data-driven decision-making, describing education as the nation’s most powerful tool for economic growth, national security and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening of the Five-Day Executive Retreat for Honourable Commissioners of Education, organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education (COSCEN), Dr. Alausa said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed education at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda by providing the political leadership and support needed to pursue bold reforms capable of transforming Nigeria’s education sector.
He stressed that while the Federal Government provides policy direction and strategic interventions, the responsibility for delivering quality education rests largely with the states, making stronger collaboration indispensable to achieving meaningful and lasting reforms.
The Minister commended COSCEN, under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, for convening the Executive Retreat, describing it as a timely platform for strengthening strategic leadership, fostering peer learning and deepening cooperation among education stakeholders across the country.
Alausa described the transition from assumption-based planning to evidence-based governance as one of the most significant reforms being implemented in Nigeria’s education sector.
Highlighting other priorities under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), Dr. Alausa said the Federal Government is expanding access to affordable digital learning technologies, including offline instructional platforms, comprehensive digital learning resources from Primary One to Senior Secondary School and teacher support tools to improve lesson delivery and classroom instruction.
He, however, cautioned against investing exclusively in expensive smart school infrastructure without adequate provisions for sustainability and maintenance, stressing that quality instructional materials, effective teacher support and conducive learning environments remain the most critical drivers of improved learning outcomes.
