On Monday, 19th May, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, held a bilateral meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Education, Rt. Hon. Bridget Phillipson.
Their meeting focused on Nigeria’s need to strengthen partnerships with the UK in the areas of foundation-level education, early childhood development, and primary education. Rather than relying solely on grant funding, Nigeria’s education sector now requires strategic partnerships focused on increasing quality and equity in education delivery. This discussion proved especially timely, as the UK Government is currently implementing strategies to enhance capacity in early childhood education.
The Minister and Secretary of State’s conversation also addressed skills development and potential areas of collaboration on the Ministry’s advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda, which is set to launch on 30th May 2025. In addition, both parties acknowledged the importance of ongoing collaborations with development partners, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
A key part of the dialogue also centred around fostering transatlantic collaboration in education between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During the meeting, Dr Alausa shared the Federal Ministry of Education’s goal—under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—to build educational capacity within Nigeria, in turn reducing school and work-related migration, commonly referred to as the “japa syndrome.”
As a direct outcome of the meeting, Dr. Alausa is scheduled to meet later this week with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham to discuss the modalities and strategic planning involved in establishing a campus in Lagos. The presence of a Russell Group university such as the University of Birmingham in Nigeria would further support the Minister’s vision to deliver high-quality education and training locally.
Looking ahead, the Minister and Secretary of State agreed to a follow-up meeting in Nigeria, where a delegation from the UK Government will be invited in the coming months. This will provide a platform for further sharing of ideas and best practices to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda for education.
The meeting was highly productive, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration and the advancement of quality education across both nations.
Dr. Alausa’s participation in the Education World Forum highlights the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to education and offers a valuable platform to engage with global leaders on transformative educational initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has repositioned Nigeria on the global stage, facilitating high-level engagements and bringing increased recognition to the nation’s education sector.
