On Monday, January 13 2025, an important meeting was held at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, spoke to leaders of Federal Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, and related institutions.
He shared insights into his vision and powerful plan to improve education in the country.
Dr. Alausa began by explaining how these institutions play vital roles in preparing young Nigerians with the skills they need to succeed and help the country grow.
He focused on the Ministry’s six-point plan to strengthen education and make it a key driver of development and growth of the country.
Excerpts of the meeting:
REMARKS BY DR. TUNJI ALAUSA, THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, AT THE MEETING WITH PROVOSTS AND RECTORS OF FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, FEDERAL POLYTECHNICS, AND ALLIED INSTITUTIONS, HELD ON MONDAY, 13TH JANUARY, 2025, AT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.
Dr Tunji Alausa
PROTOCOL:
It is indeed a pleasure to address this esteemed gathering of Provosts and Rectors from Federal Colleges of Education, Federal Polytechnics, and allied institutions. Your leadership roles are central to the success of our collective mandate to deliver high-quality education and training across Nigeria.
2. This meeting provides a valuable platform for us to deliberate on key issues affecting the administration and operations of our institutions. It also allows us to align our shared efforts toward achieving the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Ministry’s Priorities
3. As part of our Ministry’s six-point agenda to transform Nigeria’s education system, we are emphasizing the revitalization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Our strategy adopts the tried and tested pareto rule of 80/20 ratio, favoring practical over theoretical training.
4. This new curriculum is designed to equip students with the hands-on skills required to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce. By aligning academic programs with industry demands, TVET prepares students for careers in high-impact sectors such as ICT, carpentry, electrical installations, and advanced manufacturing.
5. This innovative approach is designed not only to tackle low enrollment in our technical institutions but also to ensure that graduates possess market-relevant skills critical to Nigeria’s industrialization and sustainable development.
6. To achieve this, the Ministry has forged strategic partnerships with private sector players, including the Bank of Industry (BOI) and NELFUND. These partnerships provide funding, resources, and internship opportunities that will foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability.
7. In addition to this, another important priority of our agenda is dedicated to enhancing education quality assurance, with a particular focus on Teacher Production, Development, and Professionalism. Teachers are the cornerstone of any effective education system, and our goal is to address gaps in teacher preparation.
8. Federal Colleges of Education are expected to lead the charge by implementing rigorous pre-service training and continuous professional development programs that prepare teachers to excel in an evolving educational landscape.
9. Similarly, our Polytechnics and Allied Institutions must prioritize the development of technical instructors equipped with modern pedagogical skills and aligned with global standards. These efforts are crucial to building an education system that surpasses accreditation benchmarks and produces graduates who make significant contributions to national progress.
Relationship with your Governing Councils
10. . I want to now address the role of Governing Councils in the administration of our Federal Polytechnics and colleges of education. I want to essentially give you the same charge that I gave to your colleagues in the universities.
11. As Rectors and Provosts of our Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, your primary responsibilities include the day-to-day administration of your various institutions, safeguarding lives and property and ensuring academic excellence, while maintaining accountability in accordance with the laws that establish and govern these institutions.
12. The Governing Councils on the other hand, are representatives of the President and the ministry with the mandate to provide robust supervision and oversight to ensure your institutions are run properly according to law. They are expected to set the tone for institutional excellence, promote good governance, and support the pursuit of academic and infrastructural development.
13. Both roles should compliment each other. We will not condone disrecpect from the management of any of the institutions under your purview towards our Governing Councils. You should carry out lawful instructions given to you from the Governing Councils. The ministry will not hesitate to act if you flout lawful instructions or advice from the Councils.
14. Disagreements and misunderstandings are bound to occur in any human interaction. These should be amicably handled with maturity and according to the Acts setting up your various institutions. Where these measures do not solve the problems, you should write to the ministry promptly to advert further escalation of tension within your institution.
15. There would be consequences for any infraction in this regard. Either party looking down on the order will not be tolerated. Everyone should know their role and act accordingly please.
Specific tasks forYour Institutions
16. As leaders of Federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria I want to task you to adopt a strategic approach to improve and grow their institutions by focusing on the following areas:
i. Aligning Education to Nigeria’s Needs. You need to:
•. Develop a Skill-Based Curriculum, by updating your academic programs to include skills that address national challenges, such as renewable energy, ICT, manufacturing. Essentially focusing more on STEM and TVET.
•. Align your educational programs with Nigeria’s National Development Plan, ensuring graduates are equipped to contribute to economic diversification and sustainable development.
•. Collaborate with industries to provide students with practical experience through internships and apprenticeship programs.
•. Tailor your acedemic programs to meet local economic, social, and environmental needs while addressing issues like unemployment and climate change.
•. Establish mechanisms to regularly assess graduate employability and industry relevance, using feedback to refine educational strategies.
ii. Education and Food Security. In this regard, you should:
• Integrate agricultural education and food security concepts into technical and vocational training programs, emphasizing sustainable practices, modern technologies, and agribusiness.
• For those institutions with schools of Agriculture, you should establish farms, and agritech centers where students can learn modern farming techniques, food processing, and storage innovations.
•. Collaborate with local communities to promote food production, especially in the area of Poultry farming, where the local community can be engaged for mutual benefit to the host community and beyound.
•. Partner with organizations such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, agribusiness companies, and international development agencies to provide funding, technical support, and scholarships.
iii. Making Use of Endowments. I will advice that you:
•. Establish Endowment Funds and work with alumni, private sector stakeholders, and philanthropists to set up these funds to support scholarships, infrastructure development, and research.
•. Create a governance framework to manage endowments transparently, ensuring accountability and alignment with institutional goals.
•. Mobilize alumni to contribute financially and offer mentorship or internships for students.
•. Engage in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) projects. You can also leverage corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to secure funding for academic programs, equipment, and faculty development.
iv. Capacity Building. You should:
•. Offer regular training, workshops, and advanced certifications for academic and non-academic staff to enhance their technical and pedagogical skills.
•. Invest in digital tools and infrastructure for teaching, learning, and administrative efficiency, ensuring faculty are trained in their effective use.
•. Develop leadership programs for administrative heads to improve governance, resource management, and strategic planning.
•. Facilitate exchange programs and collaborations with international institutions to expose faculty and students to global best practices.
•. Incorporate entrepreneurial training into the curriculum to empower students and staff to create value in their fields.
v. Research. On this I advice that you:
•. Establish centers of excellence dedicated to key areas like science, technology, engineering amd mathematics education.
•. Partner with industries to identify research needs, secure funding, and translate research findings into practical solutions.
•. Focus research on addressing national priorities, including renewable energy, digital innovation, and infrastructure.
•. Actively seek research grants from local and international funding agencies such as TETFund, African Union Research Grants, and global research bodies.
•. Publish findings in reputable journals, host conferences, and facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms within and beyond Nigeria.
17. By adopting these strategies, Federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education, can position their institutions as engines of national development, fostering innovation, self-reliance, and economic growth in Nigeria.
Ministry’ Committment
18. It is my sincere hope that today’s meeting will provide an opportunity for us to reflect on challenges, share experiences, and develop strategies to enhance your performance as administrators. Let me repeat that, It is essential that your operations align with the Ministry’s priorities and actively contribute to the nation’s development objectives.
19. Let me assure you all, that this administration remains fully committed to supporting your efforts as leaders in the education sector. We recognize the challenges you face and are ready to address any barriers that hinder your progress.
20. The Ministry will maintain an open-door policy, ensuring continuous collaboration to strengthen institutional frameworks, foster accountability, and optimize resource utilization.
Conclusion
21. In conclusion, I urge all of us to embrace synergy between the Ministry, Governing Councils, Institutional Leadership, and other stakeholders. Through collaboration and shared commitment, we can transform our Federal Colleges of Education and Polytechnics into models of excellence and innovation.
22. I thank you for your dedication, for taking the time to engage in this critical dialogue, and for your invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s education sector. I am confident that our discussions today will yield practical solutions that will propel our education system and our nation toward greater heights.
23. Thank you, and I look forward to a productive engagement.
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