Federal Ministry of Education

The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) is the government body responsible for directing and overseeing education in Nigeria. Established in 1988, its headquarters are located at Block 5A (8th Floor), Federal Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, P.M.B. 146, Garki, Abuja.

Mission and Vision:

• Vision: To become an economic model, delivering sound education for public good.
• Mission: To use education as a tool for fostering the development of all Nigerian citizens to their full potentials, in the promotion of a strong, democratic, egalitarian, prosperous, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God.

Key Functions and Mandates:

The FME has a broad mandate that includes:

• Formulating and coordinating a national policy on education.
• Collecting and collating data for educational planning and financing.
• Maintaining uniform standards of education throughout the country.
• Controlling the quality of education through its Inspectorate Services Department.
• Harmonizing educational policies and procedures of all states in the federation through the National Council on Education (NCE).
• Facilitating international cooperation in educational matters.
• Developing curricula and syllabuses at the national level in conjunction with other relevant bodies.
• Promoting science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences (STEMM) education.
• Reducing the number of out-of-school children.
• Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
• Advancing Girl-Child Education.
• Harnessing Data and Digitalization in education.
• Ensuring quality assurance across all levels of education.

Current Leadership:

As of July 2025, the current Minister of Education is Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa. He assumed office on October 23, 2024.18 Prior to him, Professor Tahir Mamman held the position from August 2023 to October 2024.

Key Initiatives and Priorities (under the Renewed Hope Agenda):

The Federal Ministry of Education is actively implementing several initiatives under the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These include:

• Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI): A comprehensive framework aimed at transitioning Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-driven one. It focuses on literacy improvement, data digitization, and access to quality education.
• Free Digital Skills Training with AWS: A major partnership with Amazon Web Services to deliver free training and certification in cloud computing, AI, and machine learning to students and educators in tertiary institutions.
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative: A flagship program designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship, offering tuition-free training, monthly stipends, and start-up support.
• LUMINAH Girls’ Dual Initiative: A program targeting one million girls in 12 pilot states by 2030 to help them complete their education.
• School-Based Management Committee – School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP):Collaborates with UBEC to disburse funds to schools for improvement projects like classroom renovations and WASH facilities.
• Teacher Professional Development (TPD) Programme: Aims to significantly enhance the capacity of over 223,000 teachers and education managers nationwide.
• National Anti-Bullying Policy: Launched with detailed guidelines and a committee to ensure safe learning environments.
• Proposed 12-Year Basic Education Model: Dr. Alausa has proposed a transition from the current 9-3-4 system to a 12-4 structure to align with global standards and provide a more structured learning experience.

Parastatals and Agencies:

The FME oversees numerous parastatals and agencies that assist in carrying out its functions across various levels of education.27 Some of these include:

• National Universities Commission (NUC)
• National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
• National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
• Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
• National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE)
• National Commission for Adult Education Mass Literacy and Non-Formal Education (NMEC)
• Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC)
• Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
• Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
• Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
• National Library of Nigeria (NLN)
• West African Examination Council (WAEC)
• National Examination Council (NECO)
• National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB)

The Federal Ministry of Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Nigeria by striving to provide quality, accessible, and relevant education for all its citizens.