Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has been honoured as the Most Innovative Cabinet Minister of the Year 2025 by Independent Newspapers Limited.Alausa received the award on Saturday at a glittering ceremony held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He was represented at the event by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
In a statement posted on X shortly after the ceremony, the minister accepted the recognition with humility, describing it as a testament to the collective work of stakeholders driving reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.
“Our achievements reflect the dedication of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the commitment of all those working to transform education in Nigeria,” Alausa said.
Key Reforms Driving the Recognition
Under Alausa’s leadership since his redeployment to the ministry in October 2024, several landmark initiatives have been rolled out as part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Notable achievements include:
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): The ministry has disbursed ₦2.97 billion in stipends to approximately 160,000 young Nigerians, with an additional ₦4.6 billion allocated for the establishment of skills training centres. Biometric attendance systems have been introduced to enhance accountability.
Expansion of STEMM Education: A major push in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM) is underway, supported by the Student Venture Capital Grant, which offers up to ₦50 million per qualifying project for full-time undergraduate students in 300 level and above, along with mentorship and incubation support.
A separate ₦1 billion fund targets students in public polytechnics pursuing STEM and vocational programmes.
Data and Infrastructure: Establishment of the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) and expansion of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
Labour Stability: A formal agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that took effect on January 1, 2026, helping to stabilise university operations.
Alausa credited the progress to a “one-government approach” involving seamless collaboration between federal ministries, education agencies, and subnational governments.
A Shift Toward Skills-Based Education
A nephrologist by training, Alausa has prioritised moving Nigeria’s education system away from rote learning toward practical, skills-based education, increased funding, and improved data-driven planning.
While acknowledging that significant challenges remain in the sector, the minister expressed optimism about the trajectory of the reforms.
“There is still much to do but the direction is clear. And we are moving,” he said.
The award forms part of Independent Newspapers Limited’s Silver Jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of the media organisation’s contribution to national discourse.
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