In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), and commitment to reimagining and rebuilding education system to meet the needs of the 21st century, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has declared that investing in quality education is the “smartest economic strategy” the country can pursue — far outweighing short-term spending on crisis management, social welfare or even infrastructure.
This is even as he commended Governor Uba Sani initiative in education which he described as a beacon for other states to emulate, saying he has demonstrated vision and action.
Speaking on Wednesday at the maiden KADA EDUPACT International Education Summit 2025 in Kaduna, the Minister said no nation can secure long-term stability or prosperity without first laying a solid educational foundation for its young people, adding that collaboration and Co-ownership in Education is a shared responsibility stressing that government cannot do it alone. “We need the active engagement of communities, parents, school-based management committees, the private sector, and most importantly our young people.
“Every Naira we put into quality education is a Naira saved on conflict resolution, unemployment handouts, and public health emergencies,” he told a packed hall at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Centre, Murtala Square. “If we truly want to guarantee Nigeria’s future peace and productivity, education must be treated not as a cost but as our highest-return investment.”
Alausa singled out Kaduna State under Governor Uba Sani as a shining example of how smart, deliberate investments in human capital pay off. He pointed to the state’s bold 40% tuition cut across its tertiary institutions, the injection of $62 million into basic education, and major expansions at Kaduna State University.
“Kaduna is proving that education transformation is not just possible — it is bankable,” the Minister said. “What Governor Uba Sani is doing here is more than governance; it’s economic foresight. He is investing today so Kaduna avoids paying a much heavier price tomorrow.”
Beyond physical infrastructure, Alausa challenged other states to embrace a holistic model that also focuses on curriculum relevance, digital skills, gender inclusion and teacher quality. “This is how we build a workforce ready for the 21st century, not just a generation that can read and write,” he said.
The Minister unveiled the Federal Ministry’s new blended financing framework which will pool federal, state, private sector and donor resources into a transparent, results-driven fund. “We want to reward outcomes, not bureaucracy. Kaduna’s partnerships with development partners show it can be done.”
He stressed that teachers must remain at the heart of this strategy. “No policy will deliver if the classroom is broken,” Alausa warned. “That’s why we’re pushing a Teacher Internship and Quality Assurance Framework and revamping the TRCN so every state aligns with rigorous national standards.”
With the clock ticking toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Alausa said it was urgent for other states to wake up. “Kaduna is not just charting its own destiny; it is lighting the path for the rest of Nigeria. The real question is: who will follow?”
He concluded by pledging the Federal Government’s unwavering support. “On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, I salute Kaduna’s courage and vision. Together, let us make education the engine that powers Nigeria’s peace, prosperity and long-term progress.”
Earlier in his address to declare the summit open, the Chief Host and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Sani reiterated his administration’s commitment to
building a resilient, inclusive and innovative education system that delivers results for all Kaduna State’s children.
He said: “This summit marks a significant milestone in our ongoing quest to build a stronger, more inclusive, and future-ready education system in Kaduna State. Today, we shift from fragmented interventions to a unified, data-driven, and forward-looking
educational strategy—one that places our children and youth at the centre of our development vision.
Also speaking at the opening summit, the Chargé d’affaires and British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Gill Lever Obe reaffirmed the UK’s longstanding commitment to education reform in Nigeria, a demonstration of which is its role as the major co-sponsor of the EduPACT Summit. She said:
“The UK and Kaduna State have built a strong partnership over the years, and the Kaduna State Mutual Accountability Framework is a clear sign of the government’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality education for all children.
Through our PLANE programme, we’ve worked closely with Kaduna State to improve foundational learning, teacher quality, and inclusive education. Together, we’re helping to bring out-of-school children back into learning. This summit is a great opportunity to share ideas and strengthen collaboration. The UK remains committed to supporting Kaduna’s vision for an education system that works for every child.”
In her Keynote address, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed commended the Kaduna government for helping to turn a global promise in education into local progress by reducing barriers and expanding access to quality education.
“These efforts are especially important now, as many education systems across the world face severe strain from economic pressures, inequality, and the accelerating impacts of climate change, Amina said.
In her goodwill message,Vanessa Lee, Chief of Education, UNICEF Nigeria said, “System transformation is like doing a very difficult jigsaw puzzle or balancing a weighing scale. We need practical steps combined with mindset change to achieve it. Clearly, Kaduna state is serious about its education system transformation. UNICEF is here to support the journey ahead” she said.
In attendance at the EduPACT Summit were other senior officials from government, private and the development sector, including the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba; the Chief of Education, UNICEF Nigeria, Vanessa Lee; and Senior Education Adviser, British High Commission, Ian Attfield.
The UK Government, through its flagship education programme, PLANE, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), partnered with the Kaduna State Government to co-organise the summit, alongside other key development and private sector partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank-funded AGILE programme in Kaduna, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), British Council, Save the Children, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Reaching Out Of School Children Project (ROOSC), Miva University, Malala Fund and Education as a Vaccine.
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