The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, says education will drive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s target of building a $1trn Nigerian economy by 2030.
Alausa who was speaking during an interview with journalists over the weekend, said the Federal Government is repositioning the education sector to produce a globally competitive workforce through sustained investments in human capital, skills acquisition and tertiary education reforms.
“We want to be the manpower supplier of the world. We need to produce competent, skilled and educated young Nigerians who will drive our economy and compete globally,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that annual enrolment into nursing schools has risen from 20,000 to 50,000, while admissions into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry have also expanded to address critical manpower shortages.
He said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was designed on a sustainable model to support generations of students, in line with the President’s directive that reforms must outlive the current administration.
“There is no value in introducing policies that cannot stand the test of time. Sustainability is central to this administration’s philosophy, and that principle guided the design of NELFUND,” he said.
On industrial peace in tertiary institutions, Alausa credited President Tinubu’s approach of dialogue and trust for restoring confidence.
He noted that government paid 50 percent of withheld salaries and approved a 40 percent salary increase for staff, which helped end prolonged disputes.
He added that the reforms are yielding results, citing the latest Times Higher Education rankings which show Nigerian universities in the global list increased from 21 to 24, with public universities reclaiming top national spots.
The interview, contained in a statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, said Alausa reaffirmed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, education remains central to sustainable growth, national development and unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s youthful population.
(The Whistler)