Abuja, Nigeria — In a decisive move to enhance the nation’s basic education system, the Federal Government has announced plans to reconstruct 195,000 classrooms across the country by 2027. This initiative will also include the installation of 28,000 toilets and 22,900 boreholes to ensure improved sanitation and water access in schools.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed these plans during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Session in Abuja, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure and foundational learning. Alausa stated that N40 billion has been approved to kick-start work on the long-abandoned National Library project to support academic and research needs.
Tackling Low Undergraduate Enrollment
Alausa highlighted concerns over the country’s low undergraduate enrollment, which currently stands at about 875,000 students. Despite Nigeria boasting 64 federal universities, 67 state universities, and 147 private universities, the minister noted that some institutions have fewer than 1,000 undergraduate students.
“We have universities with less than 1,000 undergraduate students, and there’s this intense demand for more universities to be opened. We have to stop that,” Alausa stated.
He criticized the proliferation of universities, noting that over 200 bills are currently pending in the National Assembly to create new tertiary institutions. Alausa urged lawmakers to focus on strengthening existing universities rather than expanding their numbers without ensuring sufficient capacity.
Boosting Vocational and Technical Training
To address skill gaps and enhance technical education, President Bola Tinubu has approved N120 billion to launch a new entrepreneurial mode for students. Under this model, students will follow a dual-mode training system, with three days dedicated to classroom learning, one day for intensive vocational training, and one day in a workshop setting.
“Our goal is to empower students with practical skills and improve their employability,” Alausa explained.
Focus on Specialised Universities and TETFund Continuation
Alausa also called on specialised universities to remain focused on their core mandates. He discouraged these institutions from expanding into non-technical courses, urging that such programs be reserved for conventional universities.
He dismissed speculation about scrapping the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), confirming that the education tax fund would remain active indefinitely. Instead, he emphasized the need to direct more resources toward infrastructure, engineering workshops, and laboratories in universities.
“We need to recruit international standard teachers so that our universities can deliver high-quality education that will be recognized globally,” he added.
The Federal Government’s ambitious plan signals a comprehensive approach to improving Nigeria’s education system, focusing on both access and quality. With a renewed focus on infrastructure, technical education, and university capacity, the initiative aims to provide a stronger foundation for students across the country.