In a transformative initiative to reignite interest in Education-related courses and the teaching profession, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, has announced the establishment of a N4 billion scholarship fund. This fund is dedicated to supporting students pursuing National Certificates of Education and other Education-related degrees at tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The announcement was made during a meeting with UNESCO officials, led by Abdourahmane Diallo, UNESCO’s Country Representative to Nigeria. The meeting underscored ongoing collaborative efforts and upcoming projects aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s educational system.
Dr. Sununu expressed profound gratitude to the UNESCO team for their invaluable support in advancing Nigeria’s educational objectives. He highlighted the critical nature of such partnerships in achieving the country’s educational aspirations.
“UNESCO’s involvement is pivotal to our mission of delivering high-quality education that equips our youth with the character and skills necessary for success both locally and internationally,” Dr. Sununu remarked. He also emphasized the importance of data-driven planning, collection, and analysis of educational data to ensure effective resource distribution and address existing challenges.
Abdourahmane Diallo provided updates on UNESCO’s ongoing and future projects in Nigeria, including a newly signed initiative focused on building teachers’ capacity. This project, targeting the “T” component of the DOTs program, is a five-year initiative with an estimated budget of €5 million. Running from 2024 to 2028, it will benefit the Federal Ministry of Education and six states: Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Katsina, Oyo, and Plateau. Diallo requested the appointment of a focal officer to facilitate the immediate implementation of the project.
Additionally, Diallo mentioned several other initiatives, including a Japan-sponsored project on teacher development and the “Better Education for Africa’s Rise” (BEAR) project, Phase III, which aims to improve TVET systems in West Africa, with Kano selected for agriculture and post-harvest processing initiatives.
An upcoming conference in Paris on June 17 was also announced, where global leaders, including representatives from Nigeria, will assess progress and mobilize efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) – Quality Education. This conference aims to accelerate progress in the educational sector.
Dr. Sununu reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s education sector through strategic partnerships and innovative projects, marking a significant milestone in this collaborative effort. He concluded by announcing that the Ministry will appoint a focal point officer and constitute a steering committee for the project.