The Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has released the Ministry’s quarterly overview of programmes, policies and financial incentives, featuring TVET and other key reforms. The update was presented at the weekend as part of efforts to keep Nigerians informed about developments in the education sector.
Dr. Alausa, who was appointed on October 23, 2024, said the ministry is executing the Nigerian Education Sector Renewed Initiative (NESRI), a six-point agenda aimed at transitioning the country from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. According to the report, the ministry is marking 14 months of aggressive reforms focused on ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education in a safe environment, regardless of location.
One of the major highlights in the report is the formalisation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and FGN Agreement, which took effect on January 1, 2026. The ministry described this as a significant achievement for industrial harmony after years of recurring strikes in universities. The new agreement introduces a 40 per cent upward review of academic emoluments and a revised salary structure. It also establishes a new professional cadre allowance for full-time professors and readers, while a similar arrangement for polytechnics is being drawn up.
To promote transparency, the ministry launched the Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal (FTIGTP). The platform tracks key performance and funding metrics across institutions. According to the report, 47 out of 67 Federal Universities and 35 out of 39 Polytechnics have already been onboarded.
On technology integration, the ministry said it is investing heavily to bridge learning gaps. Through the Digitisation of Public Schools Initiative, over 1,000 smart boards have been deployed to Federal and State Basic Education schools nationwide to equip students with future-ready skills.
Teacher welfare and capacity building were also highlighted. The launch of Edurevamp, a mobile-based professional development platform, has recorded 37,000 teacher registrations, with 18,000 fully enrolled to receive digital skills training and stipends. In addition, a partnership with the UK-funded PLANE programme and telecommunications companies MTN and Airtel will provide 8,000 teachers across the six geopolitical zones with zero-rated internet access to support modern teaching methods.
In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the ministry rolled out several social intervention programmes. A N2.55 billion Menstrual Health campaign titled “Flow with Confidence” was launched in Gombe. The initiative aims to distribute over 1 million sanitary pads to 370,000 girls in rural areas to reduce school absenteeism.
The ministry also secured a major scholarship initiative through the Dangote Foundation. The programme aims to provide scholarships to 3 million young Nigerians. It specifically targets 170,000 young girls and over 1 million students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM).
To reduce the cost of living for students, the ministry distributed 240 electric tricycles and 12 solar-powered charging stations to 12 universities across the geopolitical zones. The ministry projects that this intervention will cut campus transportation costs by up to 70 per cent.
On school security, Alausa disclosed that the ministry partnered with the National Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) to unveil the School Safety Portal. The system currently has 15,000 schools registered and has geolocated 141,000 schools to enable real-time tracking and improved security support.
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme also recorded major funding support. The ministry said N2.97 billion in stipends has been disbursed to 160,000 young Nigerians, alongside an additional N4.6 billion allocated to skills training centres. To ensure accountability, Biometric Attendance Verification has been enforced at all TVET centres to monitor stipend disbursements.
Looking beyond Nigeria’s borders, the ministry signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Birmingham. Under Nigeria’s Transnational Education framework, the UK institution will offer postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in STEMM disciplines.
Dr. Alausa also revealed that he recently visited Singapore to discuss a bilateral agreement focused on training leaders for technical schools and adopting global excellence models for Nigeria’s TVET institutions.
The ministry reiterated that its focus remains on the NESRI six-point agenda. The National Council on Education (NCE) recently reaffirmed English as the language of instruction and suspended the previous National Language Policy in a move aimed at streamlining the curriculum nationwide.
The report further stated, “Dr Alausa held a roundtable discussion with the CBN and VCs of Federal Universities to formally transition documentation, responsibility and ownership of CBN-supported intervention education projects, to the benefitting institutions, in order to maintain institutional continuity, proper asset stewardship and long-term value for public investment in education.
“FGN and BOI launched a N50 million grant initiative to provide mentorship and capacity building opportunities to students in tertiary education. 30,639 registrations received since launch,” the document added.
