THE Federal Government has appealed to stakeholders and all partners to align their projects and programmes with Nigeria’s priorities to address the country’s educational challenges.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, made the call during a meeting with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where he commended the agency for its long-standing partnership with Nigeria in the effort to to address some of the challenges in the Education sector.
Alausa, however, urged JICA to collaborate more with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), especially in the area of Effective Schools, which the government plans to establish at least one in each state of the federation.
“We must work together to fix our country’s educational system,” Dr Alausa stressed.
“The era of working in isolation is gone. We need collaborative efforts to ensure that our investments yield measurable results. We must ensure that all interventions are aligned with our national priorities to effectively fix our education sector.
“JICA’s new interventions are commendable. However, we must scale up these efforts by incorporating UBEC to ensure that at least one effective school is established in each of the 36 states,” Dr Alausa stated.
The minister stressed the importance of UBEC’s involvement in expanding the effective school initiative nationwide.
He proposed that teachers under the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) project receive training in effective school locations to ensure synergy. The minister proposed a high-level meeting involving JICA, UBEC, and the ministry to be held in April to finalise a joint financing strategy for nationwide implementation.
JICA’s chief representative, Mr Yuzurio Susumu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education sector. He highlighted JICA’s initiatives, including curriculum development, ICT integration, and teacher training.
Programme Coordinator for Education at JICA Nigeria, Mr Nwanya Stephen, outlined the agency’s ongoing efforts in education, focusing on teacher development, social mobilization, and school infrastructure improvements.
He maintained that the Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to working closely with JICA and other development partners to drive meaningful reforms in the education sector.
The upcoming meeting in April would serve as a platform to finalise collaborative strategies for scaling up the effective school model across all 36 states, ensuring long-term sustainability and nationwide impact.
In the same vein, the Federal Ministry of Education and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) have signed a landmark agreement to enhance Nigeria’s technical, vocational, and engineering education.
The signing ceremony, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, marks a crucial step in strengthening technical capacity and fostering long-term educational collaboration between Nigeria and China.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo, who signed the MOU on behalf of the government, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership, highlighting its potential to elevate technical education in Nigeria.
“This partnership will significantly enhance our capacity in both teaching and practical implementation. From my experience in China, I believe this agreement is just the beginning of a long-term relationship,” he stated.
Dr Gwarzo acknowledged the extensive consultations that led to the agreement, noting its flexibility for future expansion, quality enhancement, and dispute resolution through dialogue. While not legally binding, he stressed that the document reflects a strong commitment to mutual growth.
The permanent secretary expressed pride in facilitating a partnership that has the potential to drive meaningful improvements in Nigeria’s technical and vocational education.
Director of CCECC, John Zhao, reaffirmed the corporation’s dedication to supporting Nigeria’s education sector.
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“As mentioned by the permanent secretary, this is just the beginning. With Nigeria’s leadership prioritising education, this collaboration aligns well with national development goals,” Zhao stated.
He further emphasised CCECC’s commitment to bringing expertise, technology, and equipment to Nigeria to help address challenges in the education sector.
“We are determined and confident that we can advance together with Nigeria,” he concluded.
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