When Dr. Tunji Alausa was reassigned from Minister of State for Health to head the Ministry of Education, many were skeptical. In less than a year, however, the physician-turned-minister has silenced critics—not with fanfare, but through tangible reforms reshaping Nigeria’s education sector. Working alongside Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, Minister of State for Education, the duo is transforming what many viewed as a stagnant ministry into a laboratory for bold ideas and structural change.
One of the most radical of these is the planned transition of WAEC and NECO exams to full Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026—a move intended to curb exam malpractice and restore credibility to the nation’s testing systems. For Alausa, this is not just a logistical update but a moral stand. “A credible nation begins with credible classrooms,” he has declared, underlining the belief that merit must once again be the pathway to national progress.
In addition to tackling malpractice, the ministry is injecting new life into student innovation with the upcoming launch of the STEMM-Up Grant, a venture capital-style programme for undergraduates in science, tech, engineering, mathematics, and medical fields. Set to launch in August, the initiative promises up to ₦50 million per project—a bold attempt to turn student ideas into market-ready solutions that could shape the nation’s industrial future.
Meanwhile, Professor Sai’d Ahmed is focusing on inclusivity, particularly for children with disabilities, displaced learners, and girls marginalized by cultural norms. Through stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy, she is helping to push the education system toward equity and accessibility.
Another urgent focus is on agricultural education, a long-neglected sector producing graduates with degrees but no practical farming skills. To address this, a 24-member technical committee has been tasked with revamping the curriculum in Colleges of Agriculture. The goal: transform graduates from paper-certified job seekers into skilled agropreneurs capable of driving national food security.
The interest is already visible. Within ten days of launching a TVET Data Dashboard, 1.3 million Nigerians signed up, with over 210,000 expressing interest in livestock farming alone—a powerful signal of youth readiness to learn and lead in practical sectors.
The reforms don’t stop at home. On July 28, Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to unveil the Diaspora BRIDGE Platform, a digital system that connects Nigerian scholars abroad with institutions back home. Spearheaded by Dr. Alausa, the platform will support research collaborations, remote teaching, and academic matchmaking, integrating seamlessly with existing systems like the Tertiary Education Research Applications System (TERAS).
However, these initiatives risk being undermined by political indifference at the state level. Over ₦250 billion in UBEC funds meant for upgrading basic education remains unclaimed due to states failing to meet counterpart funding obligations. Dr. Aisha Garba of UBEC has raised concerns about this alarming trend, warning that without subnational support, the education sector’s potential cannot be fully unlocked.
In a system long plagued by inertia and corruption, the Ministry of Education appears to be reclaiming its central role as the engine room of national development. But as every farmer knows, planting seeds is only the beginning—everyone must water the soil. The current transformation requires not just federal will, but action from every arm of government, every educator, and every community.
Nigeria’s educational reform may not be making loud headlines, but in the quiet, change is echoing.