Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, was named Innovative Minister of the Year at Independent Newspapers’ Silver Jubilee Awards, held on Saturday.
According to the organisers, Alausa won for what they described as far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.
The award, presented at a ceremony held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was received on his behalf by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
The organisers said the selection followed a rigorous 12-week process involving public voting, jury assessment and editorial review, with Alausa emerging ahead of other contenders.
His emergence was linked to a series of reforms under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, anchored on six priority pillars—access, equity, quality, relevance, efficiency and governance—designed to transform learning outcomes across all levels.
Among the key initiatives cited was the introduction of the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure, which provides real-time tracking of schools, enrolment figures and infrastructure to improve planning and accountability in the sector.
The minister was also recognised for the expansion of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund, aimed at improving staff welfare and capacity development in higher institutions.
Alausa was also noted for security, a formal agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which took effect on January 1, 2026, a development credited with helping to stabilise academic calendars in universities.
Other interventions under his leadership include reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, with an 80:20 practical-to-theory model introduced across technical colleges to improve employability skills.
He also introduced the Student Venture Capital Grant scheme to support student-led innovations, alongside the rehabilitation of medical and STEMM-related institutions to boost training in critical professional fields.
In addressing the challenge of out-of-school children, the ministry revived the National Commission for Alleviation of Out-of-School Children Education, supported by a national dashboard tracking reintegration efforts across states.
Initiatives such as the AGILE programme and LUMINA project were also expanded to improve girl-child education, alongside scholarship schemes in partnership with private sector actors.
Alausa was also noted for driving digitisation in the sector through e-learning platforms such as Inspire Live and AWS Academy, which now support millions of learners nationwide, particularly in underserved communities.
Alausa, in a statement posted on his X handle after the event, said he accepted the recognition with humility, stressing that it reflected collective efforts to reposition the education sector rather than a personal achievement.
He attributed the progress to what he called a “one-government approach”, involving collaboration across federal agencies, state governments and development partners.
“These reforms are part of a coordinated effort to rebuild the education system and ensure no child is left behind,” he said.
The minister added that the recognition underscored the importance of sustained collaboration in delivering measurable improvements in education outcomes across Nigeria.
