EWAN Summit: Alausa, Ribadu, Oloyede, others to tackle Nigeria’s paper qualification challenge

In an effort to address Nigeria’s obsession with paper qualifications and the integrity of public examinations, the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) is set to bring together heavyweights in the education, manufacturing and technical sectors for a roundtable discussion on the way forward for Nigeria’s education system at its 2025 summit.

The annual event, which is the sixth in the series, is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, at the Julius Berger Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

With the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Obsession with Paper Qualification and Integrity of Public Examinations: Is TVET the Way Forward?’, the summit aims to explore the country’s fixation on paper qualifications and the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in addressing the issue.

EWAN, in a statement, noted that through the summit, the association hopes to spark a national conversation on the need to shift focus from paper qualifications to skills acquisition and competency-based education.

The Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, will deliver the keynote address, where he is expected to highlight the government’s efforts in promoting TVET and address the challenges confronting the education sector, particularly the conduct of public examinations.

Appraising the Minister’s presentation will be heads of various public examination bodies in the country, including the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede; Head of Nigeria’s Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr Amos Dangut; and the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, among others.

To share insights on how TVET can be used to address unemployment and the skills gap in the country are the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje; the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Ms. Morounke Azeez; and representatives of organisations such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others.

While the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, is the host of the event, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, is the Chief Host. The event will be chaired by the former Executive Secretary of LASTVEB and Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawunmi Gasper.

The summit will feature two panel sessions and the presentation of awards to individuals and organisations that have significantly contributed to the promotion of quality and affordable public education over the years.

An Icon of Education award will be presented to Emeritus Professor of History of Education and Nigeria’s former Representative to UNESCO, Michael Omolewa, while the philanthropist and Chairman of the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), Sir Kesington Adebutu, will be honoured for his investment in public education through donations and endowments.

Similarly, the Nigerian Breweries–Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, sponsor of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award, and the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Professor Ademola Tayo, will also be honoured for their support for teachers and schools and for 10 years of partnership with and support for EWAN, respectively.

Speaking about the summit, the chairperson of the EWAN 2025 Summit Planning Committee, Mrs Iyabo Lawal, stated that the programme is coming at a time when Nigeria is grappling with high unemployment rates and a growing skills gap.

“EWAN is committed to bridging the gaps between policymakers and recipients of various policies,” she said, noting that the association is not simply interested in reporting events but in contributing to efforts toward repositioning the nation’s education sector.

“What Nigerians experienced with the conduct of public examinations in 2025 demands urgent intervention from relevant stakeholders, and EWAN believes that the rising cases of malpractices may have been caused by the nation’s emphasis on paper qualifications, making everyone seek to have the papers at all costs, with or without the requisite knowledge. These are issues we hope to address with critical stakeholders at the summit,” she added.

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