By Felix Khanoba
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed that education will serve as the cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s ambition to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with ongoing reforms focused on building a highly skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth at home and abroad.
Alausa, who made the assertion during an interview with newsmen over the weekend, outlined the administration’s strategy to strengthen human capital through expanded access to quality education, skills development and reforms across the tertiary education sector.
According to the minister, the government is repositioning the education system to produce graduates who can compete globally while meeting Nigeria’s development needs and supplying skilled professionals to other parts of Africa and the international labour market.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, on Sunday, quoted the minister as saying: “We want to be the manpower supplier of the world. We need to produce competent, skilled and educated young Nigerians who will drive our economy, contribute to Africa’s growth and compete successfully across the world.”
Alausa explained that the government is leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population by investing in quality education and equipping young people with relevant knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving global economy.
As part of efforts to address shortages in the health sector, the minister disclosed that enrolment into nursing schools has risen significantly under the current administration.
According to him, annual admissions into nursing programmes have increased from about 20,000 before President Tinubu assumed office to approximately 50,000, while admissions into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry have also witnessed substantial growth.
Dr. Alausa expressed optimism that the expanded admissions would, within a few years, close the gap in the supply of healthcare professionals as newly trained graduates enter the workforce.
He attributed the progress to President Tinubu’s commitment to education, describing the sector as a critical pillar in the administration’s economic transformation agenda.
“As the President advances his vision of building a one trillion-dollar economy, education will remain at the centre of that transformation,” he stated.
On student financing, the minister assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has been structured to remain financially sustainable and continue supporting students for generations.
He said the President had consistently directed ministers and heads of government agencies to ensure that reforms introduced by the administration outlive its tenure.
“There is no value in introducing policies that cannot stand the test of time. Sustainability is central to this administration’s philosophy, and that principle guided the design of NELFUND,” he said.
Speaking on industrial relations within tertiary institutions, Dr. Alausa credited President Tinubu’s leadership approach for restoring confidence between the Federal Government and academic and non-academic unions through dialogue and mutual trust.
He noted that negotiations were conducted with sincerity while ensuring agreements remained realistic, affordable and implementable.
The minister recalled that the administration fulfilled its promise by paying 50 per cent of the withheld salaries inherited from previous disputes shortly after assuming office, a move he said helped rebuild trust with university unions.
He added that workers in tertiary institutions also benefited from a salary increase of nearly 40 per cent as part of efforts to improve staff welfare while maintaining fiscal discipline.
According to Dr. Alausa, the prevailing industrial peace is already translating into improved performance across the higher education sector.
He cited the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which showed that the number of Nigerian universities recognised globally increased from 21 to 24, with public universities reclaiming the country’s top positions for the first time in several years.
The minister described the achievement as evidence that the Federal Government’s education reforms and investments are producing measurable results.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to policies that will broaden access to quality education, strengthen human capital development and prepare Nigerian youths for global competitiveness.
Alausa also maintained that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education would remain central to sustainable economic growth, national development and shared prosperity, adding that the ministry would continue implementing reforms aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s human resources.
