(Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. Photo Credit: TheCable)
At the Independent Newspapers Silver Jubilee Awards on Saturday, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa was voted Innovative Minister of the Year.
The organizers claim that Alausa won because of what they called extensive changes in Nigeria’s educational system.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, accepted the award on his behalf during a ceremony at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the organizers, Alausa was chosen ahead of other candidates after a demanding 12-week process that included public voting, jury evaluation, and editorial scrutiny.
His rise was associated with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative’s reforms, which were based on six key pillars: access, equity, quality, relevance, efficiency, and governance. These pillars were intended to improve learning results at all levels.
The establishment of the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure, which offers real-time surveillance of schools, enrollment statistics, and infrastructure to enhance planning and accountability in the sector, was one of the major projects mentioned.
The expansion of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund, which aims to enhance staff welfare and capacity development in higher institutions, was another accomplishment for which the minister received recognition.
A formal agreement with the Academic Staff Union of institutions, which went into force on January 1, 2026, is acknowledged with helping to stabilize academic calendars at institutions. Alausa was also recognized for its security.
Reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, including the implementation of an 80:20 practical-to-theory model in technical colleges to enhance employability skills, are among the other interventions carried out under his direction.
Along with the rehabilitation of medical and STEMM-related institutions to increase training in vital professional domains, he also created the Student Venture Capital Grant program to assist student-led inventions.
The National Commission for Alleviation of Out-of-School Children Education was revived by the ministry to address the issue of out-of-school children, with the help of a national dashboard that tracks reintegration initiatives throughout states.
Alausa was also credited with spearheading the industry’s digitization through e-learning platforms like AWS Academy and Inspire Live, which currently assist millions of students countrywide, especially in underprivileged areas.
After the event, Alausa made a message on his X handle in which he humbly accepted the award, emphasizing that it was not a personal accomplishment but rather the result of group efforts to reposition the education sector.
He credited the advancement to a “one-government approach,” which involves cooperation between federal agencies, state governments, and development partners.
He declared, “These reforms are part of a coordinated effort to rebuild the education system and ensure no child is left behind.”
The minister went on to say that the acknowledgment highlighted the significance of ongoing cooperation in achieving quantifiable gains in educational results throughout Nigeria.
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