Tunji Alausa, minister of education, says education will be central to President Bola Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030.
Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, Alausa said the federal government is repositioning the education sector to produce a globally competitive workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation and supplying skilled professionals to Africa and the international labour market.
He said the administration was working to convert Nigeria’s youthful population into a demographic dividend through expanded access to quality education, skills acquisition and reforms in tertiary institutions.
“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 said.
He said the government had significantly expanded admissions into health-related programmes to address shortages of critical professionals.
According to him, annual enrolment in nursing schools has increased from about 20,000 students before the current administration to approximately 50,000.
He added that admissions into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry had also been expanded.
Alausa expressed confidence that the reforms would help eliminate the shortage of healthcare professionals in the coming years as thousands of newly trained graduates join the workforce.
The minister also said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was designed as a sustainable financing model capable of supporting generations of students.
He said President Tinubu had directed ministers and heads of government institutions to ensure that reforms introduced by the administration were sustainable beyond the lifespan of the current government.
“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.
On industrial relations in tertiary institutions, Alausa credited Tinubu’s emphasis on dialogue and mutual respect with restoring confidence between the federal government and academic and non-academic staff unions.
He said the administration had negotiated with the unions in good faith while ensuring that agreements reached were realistic and implementable.
According to him, Tinubu fulfilled his commitment to pay 50 percent of withheld salaries inherited from previous disputes within months of assuming office.
He added that the government also approved a salary increase of nearly 40 percent for workers in tertiary institutions.
Alausa said the improved industrial harmony was already producing results in the higher education sector.
He cited the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which he said increased the number of Nigerian universities recognised globally from 21 to 24, while public universities reclaimed the top national positions.
The minister said the development showed that sustained investment and stability were improving the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to reforms aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening human capital development and preparing Nigerian youths to compete in the global economy.
