By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government says ongoing education reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are expanding access to tertiary education, strengthening vocational skills development and improving teacher training across Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Thursday, October 29, 2026, during a meeting of the Committee of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education in Abuja.
Idris, whose keynote address was delivered by the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, said education remains central to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its ambition to build a prosperous and inclusive economy.
He stressed that sustained investment in human capital, particularly the education and development of young people, was essential to Nigeria’s long-term development.
The Minister identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the government’s major interventions for helping eligible students overcome financial barriers to tertiary education.
He also highlighted the renewed focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills for employment, entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities in the labour market.
According to Idris, the success of these reforms will depend largely on the quality of teachers and the effectiveness of leadership in educational institutions.
He urged governing councils of Federal Colleges of Education to strengthen transparency, accountability and prudent resource management while maintaining effective working relationships with institutional management.
The Minister emphasised that investing in teacher education goes beyond improving classroom instruction, noting that well-trained teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of Nigerian children and the country’s development.
He said the quality of teachers would influence learning outcomes, national development and the opportunities available to future generations.
Idris also called on educational institutions to strengthen the teaching of national values, civic responsibility and critical thinking.
He noted that teachers have an important responsibility to help young Nigerians distinguish facts from misinformation, respect diversity and contribute to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The Minister challenged members of the Committee to develop practical recommendations for improving governance and academic standards across Federal Colleges of Education.
He said the effectiveness of educational institutions should be measured through improved academic standards, stronger governance structures, better-equipped teachers and improved learning outcomes.
Idris congratulated the Committee on its commitment to teacher education and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of teacher training to national development.
SOURCE: Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO).
