The Federal Government has announced six-point Initiatives as critical areas to prioritize in the ongoing efforts to transform and revitalize the education sector in Nigeria. Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who announced this in Abuja during a meeting with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, said the review of the roadmap of his predecessor, was not a policy summersault.

Galaxy Television reports that the six key priority areas are: promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), education, reducing the Number of Out-of-School Children, Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing Girl-Child Education, Harnessing Data and Digitalization and Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms. According to the Minister, this was in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He noted that engagement with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, along with Secretaries of Education, was to address the growing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector. Alausa added that the meeting centered on developing a comprehensive reform agenda where state commissioners were expected to key into government initiatives to improve educational standards in the country.

This gathering is pivotal in aligning our shared vision for education across all levels of government to drive national development. I am very happy for a forum like this that would enable National and Sub-National Governments to align our policies and strategies to better the education of all Nigerians. At the Federal Ministry of Education, we promise to assist your forum in various ways to make it stronger and responsive in discharging its duties for more efficiency and better coordination,” he said.

While underscoring the importance of reforms in education, the Minister reminded the Commissioners and Secretary of Education that education was not merely a sector, but the bedrock of the nation’s prosperity, a foundation for equity, and a catalyst for innovation. Other stakeholders at the meeting highlighted the contributions of their agencies to the education sector and promised their continuous support to the government in the area of Infrastructure and funding.