Minister seeks inputs of private sector, others inexecution of $345m out-of-school programme
The Federal Ministry of Education has indicated its commitment to provide an enabling policy environment that encourages the participation of private sector, development organisations, and industry leaders in the implementation
- By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor
The Federal Ministry of Education has indicated its commitment to provide an enabling policy environment that encourages the participation of private sector, development organisations, and industry leaders in the implementation of education initiatives.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who spoke during the inaugural Federal Ministry of Education Private Sector Breakfast Convening held in Lagos, said the Federal Government requires an annual investment of $345m to effectively re-integrate and provide essential skills to the approximately 15 million out-of-school children across the country.
According to the minister, the $345 million figure is based on current per capita spending required to address the needs of the 15 million children who are outside the formal school system.
Alausa noted that 25 per cent of children aged 5-14 were out of school in the country, with the figure rising to 41 per cent in the North-East and North-West regions.
Alausa, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised that while the government had made significant strides through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, substantial additional investment is needed to complement public efforts.
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He noted that education remains a central pillar of the “Renewed Hope” development plan, which targets a $1tn economy by 2030.
Welcoming the invited guests to the event, the minister encouraged open, constructive conversations around areas where collaboration could make the greatest impact, from technical and vocational education, digital learning, teacher capacity development, education financing, research, and innovation ecosystems, to strengthening the link between education and the labour market.
Prof. Ahmad assured the private sector operators that the Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to providing an enabling policy environment that encourages private sector participation, transparency, and accountability in the implementation of education initiatives.
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She said together, through the Renewed Hope vision and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, the ministry and the sector’s operators would build an education system that truly prepares the country’s young people for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
The minister said: “Your presence here today underscores a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education system and ensuring that it delivers meaningful outcomes for our learners and for national development.
“This convening is both timely and strategic. Education remains the cornerstone of national progress, and no nation can achieve sustainable growth without a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking education system. Recognising this, the Federal Ministry of Education has deliberately created this platform to deepen engagement with the private sector, encourage innovative partnerships, and foster collaborative solutions that will accelerate transformation across all levels of education.”
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“Permit me to underscore that this inaugural breakfast convening is significantly anchored by the support of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Grant, which continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s education reform priorities. Through this strategic support, we are not only strengthening sector-wide coordination and policy implementation under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, but also creating inclusive platforms such as this to deepen public-private collaboration.
“The GPE Grant reflects a shared global commitment to improving learning outcomes and expanding equitable access to quality education, and we are proud to leverage this partnership to drive meaningful, measurable impact across our education system.”
The minister said the new efforts firmly aligned with the vision of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda, which places human capital development at the heart of Nigeria’s national development priorities.
In response to this vision, Prof. Ahmad asserted that the Federal Ministry of Education has operationalised the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, a comprehensive reform framework designed to reposition Nigeria’s education system to meet the demands of the 21st century.
“Through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, we are implementing targeted reforms that prioritise access, quality, equity, innovation, and relevance in education delivery.
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“NESRI provides a structured pathway for revitalising our education sector through policy reforms, strengthened institutional capacity, improved teacher development, expanded digital learning opportunities, and stronger collaboration between government and non-government stakeholders.
“I am pleased to note that the implementation of NESRI is already yielding encouraging results. Across various subsectors of education, we are witnessing renewed momentum in policy alignment, improved coordination among stakeholders, and increased interest from private sector partners who recognize that education investment is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic economic imperative,” she said.
However, the minister argued that government alone could not achieve the scale of transformation required, adding that the private sector remains a critical partner in driving innovation, expanding infrastructure, supporting skills development, and ensuring that our education system produces graduates who are globally competitive and industry-ready.
“This is precisely why today’s breakfast convening is important; it signals our collective resolve to move beyond dialogue to practical, impactful partnerships,” she said.
She thanked the guests for their partnership and for believing in Nigeria’s potential.
