Minister of Education Commits to Transforming Nigeria's Education Sector

In a recent development, Professor Tahir Mamman, Nigeria's Minister of Education, has pledged to address critical issues within the nation's education sector. This commitment was announced in a statement released by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), based in Abuja on Wednesday.

During discussions, Minister Mamman emphasized President Bola Tinubu's dedication to reshaping the nation through education. He underscored President Tinubu's business-like approach to governance and revealed plans for quarterly performance evaluations for all ministers. Minister Mamman stated, "The ministry under his leadership will tackle fundamental structural challenges across primary, secondary, and tertiary education levels. We will collaborate with all stakeholders to revitalize the sector."

A central focus for universities will be aligning educational outcomes with national productivity, research innovation, and entrepreneurship to foster self-reliance and reduce reliance on traditional white-collar employment, the Minister added.

The Ministry of Education is resolute in its mission to enhance university education throughout the country. In response, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, raised concerns about security issues within Nigerian universities, citing the recent kidnapping of students at the Federal University Gusau. Dr. Sununu acknowledged the gravity of the matter and reiterated the government's commitment to addressing it effectively.

Furthermore, Professor Lilian Salami, the Chairman of the Committee, extended her gratitude to Minister Mamman for allowing the delegation to officially congratulate him on being the first serving Vice-Chancellor to assume the role of Minister of Education. Professor Salami highlighted several pressing challenges facing universities, including funding, staff recruitment, university autonomy, conflicts between university laws and other legislation, and ongoing labor disputes with university-based unions.

In a significant development, the committee presented its study report on "Challenges, Opportunities, and Sustainable Models for Nigerian Federal Universities," aiming to find lasting solutions to the difficulties faced by both public and private universities.

To mark its diamond jubilee celebration, the committee formally invited the ministers to a special event scheduled for October 9 to October 11 in Abuja. This event promises to provide a platform for further discussions on the advancement of higher education in Nigeria.

Among the distinguished Vice Chancellors who formed part of the delegation were Professor Kabiru Adeyemo of Lead City University, Dili Dogo of Nile University, Professor Ibiyemi Bello of Lagos State University (LASU), Fatima Tahir of Bauchi State University, and Professor Allen Agih of Niger Delta University. Additionally, Professor Barnabas Qurix of Bingham University, Professor Mu’azu Abubakar of the Federal University, Gusau, and Professor Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of CVCNU, were also present.