Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says ongoing education reforms under President Bola Tinubu are delivering measurable improvements and will have long-term impact on generations of Nigerians.
Speaking at the Education World Forum in London, Alausa highlighted Nigeria’s foundational literacy and numeracy reforms, describing them as a major shift toward standardised, data-driven education delivery across the country.
He said the government has unified foundational learning under a single national framework covering both formal schools and non-formal education systems, allowing for improved monitoring and coordination.
Alausa explained that programmes such as RANA and Teaching at the Right Level are being scaled across multiple states with structured lesson plans, teacher training, and continuous assessment to improve early-grade learning outcomes.
He also noted that the Accelerated Basic Education Programme is providing out-of-school children with a pathway to complete basic education within three years and transition into secondary school.
According to the minister, new data systems now allow education performance to be tracked in real time across states, helping to identify gaps and improve accountability.
He cited state-led initiatives such as EKOEXCEL in Lagos, KwaraLEARN, and BayelsaPRIME as successful models that have significantly improved literacy levels within short periods through technology and teacher coaching.
Alausa said foundational learning has become a central pillar of the administration’s education agenda, with new policies being developed to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks for long-term reform.
He also revealed plans to increase funding for basic education by raising the allocation to the Universal Basic Education Commission, alongside performance-based financing tied to learning outcomes.
The minister added that the government is focusing on reducing Nigeria’s high number of out-of-school children by integrating alternative education programmes into the national system.
He said the reforms aim to eliminate parallel structures, improve quality, and ensure consistent standards across all education delivery channels.
Alausa concluded that Nigeria is shifting from measuring inputs such as enrolment to focusing on learning outcomes, expressing confidence that the reforms will reduce learning poverty and strengthen the country’s education system over time.
