In a landmark move that could reshape the Nigerian education landscape, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced on Tuesday that the federal government is contemplating a proposal to convert all federal colleges of education into universities of education. Speaking at a budget defense session before the joint House of Representatives Committees on Education, Alausa explained that this proposal is aimed at addressing the declining interest in the nation’s colleges of education.
According to the Minister, the transformation has become necessary as many Nigerian students are now increasingly reluctant to seek admission into colleges of education. “We are seeing a trend where fewer and fewer students are applying to these institutions, and in some cases, they are struggling to fill even a thousand student spots,” Alausa said. “This is a significant concern, especially when we consider the budgetary allocations directed toward these colleges.”
Alausa also pointed out that many countries, including the United States, no longer have the equivalent of Nigeria’s colleges of education. This raises the question of whether such institutions are still relevant in the current educational climate. “Do we still need these colleges of education?” Alausa asked rhetorically. “They don’t exist in the United States of America, and many other advanced nations have phased them out. We need to rethink our strategy and transform these colleges into universities of education.”
Budget Proposal and Strategic Education Goals
The Minister also touched on the broader framework guiding the government’s education policy, particularly with respect to the 2025 budget. The proposed N2.5 trillion education budget is centered on the key priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at revitalizing the educational sector and ensuring the delivery of contemporary, globally competitive curricula.
“We are focused on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to return to school, improving the safety of the learning environment, enhancing the capacity of our teachers, and equipping our universities to produce the human resources necessary for national development,” Alausa emphasized.
The minister outlined that the 2025 budget proposal includes N348.3 billion for the Ministry of Education, N816.7 billion for parastatals, and N226.7 billion for polytechnics. The colleges of education would receive N139.3 billion, while the bulk of the funds—N811.9 billion—has been earmarked for the country’s 54 federal universities. Additionally, N171.6 billion is allocated for the federal unity colleges, and N3.1 billion has been allocated for UNESCO Paris.
The State of Nigeria’s Higher Education Institutions
Alausa provided an overview of the current state of Nigeria’s education system. He explained that the country currently has 54 federal universities, four inter-university centers, 36 federal polytechnics, 32 federal colleges of education, and 118 federal unity colleges. The division of these institutions into categories such as conventional, sciences, and technical colleges is aimed at meeting diverse educational needs across the country.
However, despite this significant infrastructure, Alausa admitted that many federal colleges of education are struggling to maintain relevance and attract students. “Some of these institutions have fewer than a thousand students enrolled,” he said. “This is a stark contrast to the demand for university education, which continues to grow each year.”
Lawmakers’ Support and Calls for Efficiency
The proposed shift in the education sector received backing from lawmakers, particularly the Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Hassan Fulata. Fulata assured that the committee would use its full constitutional powers to ensure that academic activities in the country were not disrupted and that the standard of education continued to improve.
“We will not allow any delays in the implementation of policies that will enhance the quality of education in Nigeria,” Fulata stated. “At the same time, we must ensure that the funds allocated to the ministry and relevant institutions are utilized efficiently. It is essential that all MDAs (ministries, departments, and agencies) honor their invitations and comply with the necessary checks to maintain accountability.”
Fulata also highlighted the importance of improving the management of funds allocated to the education sector, given the competing demands from various sectors. “Despite the insufficient funds available, it is crucial that we optimize every penny to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria,” he added.
