The Federal Government has said it is shifting Nigeria’s education system towards a youth-led and skills-driven model, as part of ongoing reforms in the sector.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, disclosed this at the 2026 International Day of Education celebration, themed “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.”

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, on Saturday.

Alausa said education remains central to national development but acknowledged “persistent global and national challenges such as access gaps, learning poverty, skills mismatches, and gender disparities.”

He said reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Education are aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places education at the centre of economic growth and social development.

According to him, funding for the sector has increased through budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financing and partnerships with international development partners.

The minister listed ongoing interventions under the Education Transformation Roadmap to include curriculum rationalisation, expansion of digital learning platforms, strengthening of teacher capacity in modern pedagogy and artificial intelligence, expansion of technical and vocational education and training, infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of a National Anti-Bullying Policy.

He said the reforms are aimed at repositioning education to respond to labour market needs, noting that more than half of Nigeria’s population is under 30 years of age.

According to the minister, the ministry is moving away from traditional top-down education models to a participatory approach that involves learners in shaping education outcomes through innovation hubs, digital tools and feedback mechanisms.

He said achievements recorded under the current reforms including “the rollout of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewed Initiative; deployment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training learners across accredited centres nationwide; repositioning of TVET as a major driver of employment and entrepreneurship; expanded medical, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine, and nursing education enrolment; refocused and expanded scholarship opportunities; student venture capital and staff support funding; strengthened education data transparency; accelerated digital learning; and targeted interventions for out-of-school and Almajiri children.”

The minister also cited progress in access and inclusion, including the integration of children into formal and non-formal education, expanded girl-child education through the AGILE programme and the LUMINAH 2030 Initiative, enhanced school safety frameworks and strengthened quality assurance across all levels of education.

Calling for broader stakeholder involvement, Alausa urged parents, communities, civil society organisations, the media and the private sector to collaborate with the government in establishing innovation hubs and skills centres.

“By empowering our youth to co-create education, we are not merely reforming classrooms; we are safeguarding Nigeria’s future, strengthening national unity, and unlocking the full potential of the next generation,” he said.

The minister commended teachers for their role in the education system and urged students to continue engaging in education policy and innovation.

The International Day of Education is marked annually on January 24.