The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has announced a sweeping digital transformation of Nigeria’s education sector, aimed at modernising classrooms and equipping students with skills for global competitiveness.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Alausa said the reforms would embed technology across all levels of learning, from artificial intelligence (AI) to digital literacy. He disclosed that the ministry has begun deploying solar-powered infrastructure in schools, training teachers in digital skills, and engaging local tech firms to develop AI-driven learning platforms, e-libraries, and interactive tools.
“These innovations will make classrooms smarter, learning more engaging, and teachers more effective,” he said, adding that the reforms would prepare students for a digital economy that values creativity and problem-solving.
The minister highlighted the €38 million Blueprint ICT Development Project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), which will strengthen ICT infrastructure in 10 universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University of Calabar; University of Maiduguri; and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
On tertiary education, Alausa disclosed that N70 billion would be invested in upgrading 18 medical schools, while another N40 billion would be used to build six state-of-the-art simulation laboratories. He also announced an AI capacity-building programme to train 6,000 senior secondary school teachers nationwide, backed by an AI in Education Task Force.
The government, he said, will soon launch the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI/NERDI), a consolidated platform to integrate datasets from JAMB, WAEC, NECO, UBEC, and NYSC, with a live dashboard for real-time tracking of student progress by mid-2025.
On curriculum reforms, Alausa stressed the need to streamline the existing framework of 76 WAEC and 80 JAMB subjects, describing it as overloaded. He also vowed strict enforcement of the Exam Malpractice Act to curb misconduct among students and lecturers.
On funding, the minister assured that no student would be denied access to education due to financial hardship, as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would cover all institutional charges under a forthcoming standardised fee structure.
“Digital education, standardised fees, transparent governance, and curriculum reform are all part of one bold agenda,” he said, commending TETFund for supporting transformative projects.
Alausa urged journalists to hold institutions and state governments accountable, noting that Nigeria’s future depends on how well it educates its youth.
“By making this big leap into digital education, we are laying the foundation for a society that is innovative, productive, and competitive on the world stage,” he added.
