By Felix Khanoba
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has stressed that Nigeria’s education sector can only achieve meaningful transformation through closer collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments, backed by reliable data for planning and policy implementation.
He said education remains the country’s most effective instrument for driving economic growth, strengthening national security and promoting sustainable development.
Dr. Alausa made the remarks while declaring open the five-day Executive Retreat for Honourable Commissioners of Education, organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education (COSCEN).
He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made education a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda by providing the leadership and political support required to implement far-reaching reforms across the sector.
According to the Minister, although the Federal Government provides policy direction and strategic interventions, state governments bear the primary responsibility for delivering quality education, making partnership between both tiers of government essential for lasting progress.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa commended COSCEN, led by its Chairman, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, for organising the retreat, describing it as an important forum for strengthening leadership, encouraging knowledge sharing and enhancing collaboration among education stakeholders nationwide.
The Minister identified the shift from assumption-based planning to evidence-driven governance as one of the landmark reforms in the education sector. He announced the rollout of the National Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) and the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), explaining that the platforms would generate real-time information on student enrolment, teacher distribution, school facilities, learning outcomes and other critical indicators needed for planning, budgeting and effective resource allocation.
He explained that the integrated digital system would harmonise education data from schools, local governments, states and federal institutions into a unified platform capable of supporting informed policy decisions while promoting accountability, transparency and improved service delivery.
The Minister urged state governments to complete their Annual School Census using the digital platform, praising Kaduna and Borno states for their progress while encouraging others to fast-track implementation. He also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has deployed digital dashboards and smart boards to strengthen evidence-based planning, with the National Bureau of Statistics providing additional analytical support.
Dr. Alausa further encouraged Commissioners of Education to maximise opportunities under the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Programme, which offers US$552 million in performance-based funding to states that meet specified implementation benchmarks.
He noted that while every state qualifies to benefit from the initiative, several have yet to fulfil key requirements, including signing Subsidiary Loan Agreements (SLAs), opening dedicated programme accounts and meeting mandatory data reporting obligations.
The Minister urged the Commissioners to collaborate closely with the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank to satisfy the Programme-for-Results conditions and unlock additional funding for improved access to education, better learning outcomes and stronger governance.
To ensure sustained progress, he proposed that the Council of State Commissioners of Education institutionalise quarterly review meetings to encourage peer learning, assess implementation progress, exchange best practices and reinforce accountability across the federation.
Speaking on other priorities under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), Alausa said the Federal Government is expanding access to affordable digital learning technologies, including offline instructional platforms, digital learning materials covering Primary One to Senior Secondary School, as well as teacher support tools aimed at improving classroom instruction.
He, however, warned against focusing solely on costly smart school infrastructure without making adequate provisions for maintenance and sustainability, insisting that quality teaching materials, effective teacher support and conducive learning environments remain the key drivers of improved educational outcomes.
The Minister reaffirmed that education is a shared national responsibility beyond political interests and urged all stakeholders to institutionalise credible education data, strengthen accountability, invest in human capital and sustain collaborative reforms capable of delivering measurable improvements across the sector.
Declaring the retreat open, Dr. Alausa urged Commissioners to embrace evidence over assumptions, collaboration over isolation and continuity over fragmented reforms, emphasising that the future prosperity and competitiveness of Nigeria will ultimately depend on the quality of education provided to today’s learners.
Delivering a keynote address titled, “Beyond the Tenure of Commissioners: Sustaining Education Reforms in the Era of Digital Disruption,” former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Mr. Osita Chidoka, challenged Commissioners to develop reforms capable of outlasting political administrations.
He stressed that lasting improvements in education require policy continuity, reliable data, stronger teacher development, accountability and sustained investment in learning outcomes rather than short-term interventions.
Also speaking, the Senior Economist and Task Team Leader for the HOPE Education Programme, Mr. Shin Nomura, who represented the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Matthew Verghis, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education reform agenda through the HOPE Education Programme.
He explained that the programme became effective in March 2026 and is designed to improve education governance, financing, teacher development, learning outcomes and data systems through a performance-based financing model. He urged states to complete all preparatory requirements to enable timely access to programme funding.
