Alausa: FG Improving Digital Education, Modernising Learning Environment

Seeks streamlining of WAEC’s 76, JAMB’s 80 subjects 

Says with NELFUND no student will be denied education 

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has declared that Nigeria is making a decisive leap into digital education as part of the federal government’s sweeping reforms aimed at modernising the country’s learning environment and preparing young Nigerians for global competitiveness.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja, Alausa explained that the integration of technology into education is no longer optional but essential for Nigeria’s future. He stressed that the reforms currently underway place digital transformation at the heart of the sector, with initiatives designed to enhance lesson delivery, expand access, and empower both teachers and students.

“Education is changing across the world, and Nigeria must not be left behind. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to digital literacy, we are embedding technology into every aspect of learning. This is the big leap we must take if we want to build an education system that is modern, inclusive, and globally competitive,” Alausa said.

According to him, the ministry has begun rolling out solar-powered infrastructure in schools to ensure reliable electricity, while teachers are being equipped with tablets and trained in digital skills. Local technology firms, he noted, are also being engaged to develop AI-driven learning platforms, e-libraries, and interactive tools to support the reforms.

“These innovations will make classrooms smarter, learning more engaging, and teachers more effective. Beyond improving outcomes, they will prepare Nigerian students for a digital economy that rewards creativity, problem-solving, and global collaboration,” he added.

Among the flagship initiatives, Alausa highlighted the Launch of the Blueprint ICT Development (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project, a €38 million programme funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). 

The project, he said, will drive digital transformation in 10 Nigerian universities, including the University of Calabar; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; Federal University of Technology, Minna; and University of Maiduguri. 

In addition, he stressed that it is designed to strengthen institutional ICT infrastructure, enable hybrid and cross-border learning, improve education data systems for evidence-based policymaking, promote technical and vocational education through digital tools, and expand digital education in underserved communities.

He also announced significant TETFund-backed tertiary infrastructure investments, including N70 billion to upgrade 18 medical schools and N40 billion to build six state-of-the-art simulation laboratories for medical training institutions.

Another major reform, he disclosed, is the federal government’s artificial intelligence training programme aimed at equipping 6,000 senior secondary school teachers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This effort, according to the minister, is backed by the creation of an AI in Education Task Force, responsible for embedding AI into teaching and ensuring schools adapt to the technological future.

In addition, the ministry, he said, is preparing to launch the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI/NERDI)—a consolidated platform that will integrate million-scale datasets from JAMB, WAEC, UBEC, NECO, and NYSC. By mid-2025, the system, he explained, will include a live education dashboard to provide real-time tracking of student progress, empowering evidence-based policymaking and accountability.

The minister compared the reforms to the success of Nigeria’s health sector in producing world-class nurses, saying the education sector could replicate such achievements if it embraced technology and strengthened teacher capacity.

Alausa also addressed broader challenges in the sector, including accountability, curriculum reform, and exam malpractice. 

He stressed the need to streamline Nigeria’s overloaded curriculum—currently with 76 WAEC subjects and 80 JAMB subjects—into a sharper, more relevant framework. He further called for strict enforcement of the Exam Malpractice Act, insisting that both students and lecturers who compromise standards must face sanctions.

On funding, Alausa reiterated that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) will cover all fees charged by higher institutions, ensuring no student is denied education because of financial hardship. He also confirmed that universities will soon operate under a unified and transparent fee structure to eliminate arbitrary charges.

“Digital education, standardised fees, transparent governance, and curriculum reform are all part of one bold agenda. Since assuming office, our focus has been on building a system that is modern, accountable, and sustainable,” the minister noted.

He urged journalists to play their watchdog role in holding institutions and state governments accountable for policies that affect the federal education system. He also commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its continued support in funding transformative projects.

“The future of Nigeria lies in how well we educate our children today. 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,” Alausa emphasised.