The Federal Government has presented 26 major education reforms, programmes and reported achievements under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), outlining its efforts to transform Nigeria’s education system under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The initiative, led by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, is designed to reposition Nigeria’s education sector through six priority areas, including technical and vocational training, science and medical education, out-of-school children, girl-child education, digitalisation and quality assurance.
Since November 2024, the government says it has introduced several interventions aimed at expanding access to education, improving learning outcomes, strengthening educational infrastructure and preparing young Nigerians for employment in a knowledge-driven economy.
To explain the scope of the reforms, the government has presented NESRI A–Z: Reform to Results, a publication highlighting 26 initiatives and developments, from AGILE scholarships and basic education funding to TVET, university staff welfare and efforts to tackle learning poverty.
Below is the A–Z breakdown of the reforms and achievements highlighted in the initiative.
NESRI A–Z: The 26 education reforms explained
A – AGILE: Scholarships for 577,863 Girls
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has reportedly provided scholarships to 577,863 girls to improve access to education and reduce barriers preventing girls from attending school.
B – Basic Education: ₦106 Billion UBEC Funding
The government highlighted basic education funding, including approximately ₦106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funding referenced in a 2026 progress report presented at the Jos Bootcamp.
C – Curriculum and Communication
Curriculum reforms are underway to improve the relevance of education and equip learners with skills required in the modern economy.
The Federal Government also launched a 2025–2027 Education Sector Communication Strategy to improve public awareness, stakeholder engagement and transparency.
D – Data and Digitalisation
Education data is one of NESRI’s six priority areas. The Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI) is intended to strengthen data collection, digital records and evidence-based planning across the education system.
E – Engagement
The initiative provides for regular engagement with citizens, education stakeholders and government officials. Quarterly engagements are intended to encourage feedback, collaboration and accountability.
F – Financing Education
The government estimates that approximately $345 million annually would be required to support the reintegration of out-of-school children.
It also projects that two-thirds of Nigerian states will meet the 15 per cent education spending benchmark in 2026.
G – Girl-Child Education
Girl-child education remains a major priority, with interventions such as AGILE and LUMINAH 2030 targeting improved access, retention, literacy and empowerment for girls.
H – Human Capital Development
NESRI is linked to the administration’s ambition of placing human capital development at the centre of national progress through education, skills acquisition and improved learning opportunities.
I – Infrastructure
The reform programme covers improvements in educational infrastructure, inclusive learning environments and digital governance.
One example highlighted is the Katsina Smart School, designed to support modern teaching and learning.
J – Joint Federal and State Action
The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation between the Federal Government, state governments and development partners to ensure that national education policies translate into practical results at the state and local levels.
K – Knowledge Economy
One of NESRI’s major objectives is to move Nigeria from a resource-based economy towards a knowledge-based economy by strengthening education, research, innovation and technical skills.
L – LUMINAH 2030 and Learner Identification Number
LUMINAH 2030 is designed to support second-chance education and improve learning opportunities for underserved girls and women.
The initiative is being implemented in 12 states and the FCT, with a long-term target of reaching one million girls and women by 2030.
The Learner Identification Number (LIN) is also being introduced to strengthen learner identification and education records.
M – Medical Schools and Health Education
The government is upgrading facilities for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing across the six geopolitical zones.
A national monitoring committee is expected to oversee implementation and ensure that the interventions address infrastructure and training needs.
N – NESRI Scholarships
According to the figures contained in the A–Z breakdown, 482,342 students received scholarships from more than 828,000 applications.
The programme is intended to improve access to education and reduce financial barriers facing Nigerian students.
O – Out-of-School Children
The Federal Government says nationwide mapping has been conducted to identify out-of-school children and support interventions aimed at returning them to formal or non-formal education.
P – Private Sector and Partnerships
The 2026–2030 NESRI framework and the 2024–2027 Partnership Compact are designed to strengthen collaboration between government, private organisations and development partners.
Their focus includes foundational learning, reducing out-of-school children, gender equality and tackling learning poverty.
Q – Quality Assurance
Education quality assurance is one of NESRI’s six priority areas.
The government aims to improve teaching standards, school safety, curriculum delivery, institutional performance and learning environments.
R – Renewed Hope Agenda
NESRI operates under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which provides the broader policy direction for the administration’s education reforms.
S – STEAM and Smart Schools
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education and smart schools form part of the government’s efforts to prepare students for technological advancement and the changing demands of the labour market.
The wider STEMM agenda also covers Medical Sciences.
T – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
The Federal Government’s TVET programme is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical and marketable skills.
The A–Z breakdown cites more than 960,000 applications processed through the programme’s digital platform.
The initiative provides tuition-free vocational training, stipends and opportunities for participants to acquire practical skills in different trades.
U – Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
UBEC remains a major funding and implementation channel for basic education development, infrastructure improvement and teacher training across Nigeria.
V – Vision 2050
The reform framework considers Nigeria’s projected population growth, with the population expected to exceed 350 million by 2050 and young people accounting for a substantial proportion.
The government argues that investment in education and skills is necessary to prepare the country for this demographic expansion.
W – Welfare of Education Staff
The Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), launched in August 2025, is designed to support staff welfare and improve conditions in tertiary institutions.
The programme includes interventions relating to staff welfare, mobility and institutional support. The government reports that disbursements have commenced.
X – Execution Tracking
The government says it held a six-month review meeting on NESRI deliverables on August 7, 2026, to assess implementation progress and monitor commitments under the initiative.
Y – Youth Participation
Young Nigerians are expected to play an active role in the education reforms through skills acquisition, innovation, entrepreneurship and participation in programmes designed to improve their opportunities.
Z – Zeroing in on Learning Poverty
Reducing learning poverty is a major focus of the Partnership Compact.
The objective is to improve foundational literacy and numeracy so that children acquire essential skills during their formative years.
The six pillars driving NESRI
The 26 initiatives are organised around six major priority areas:
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM).
- Out-of-School Children and Almajiri Education.
- Girl-Child Education.
- Data and Digitalisation.
- Education Quality Assurance.
The Federal Ministry of Education says these pillars are designed to address challenges affecting access, quality, equity, skills development and institutional performance.
What do the figures mean for Nigerians?
The reported figures point to several areas of government intervention, particularly scholarships, vocational training, girl-child education, digital learning and infrastructure development.
However, the number of applications received by a programme should not automatically be interpreted as the number of beneficiaries trained or supported.
Similarly, funds announced or allocated should be distinguished from funds actually released, disbursed and accounted for.
The real impact of NESRI will ultimately depend on how effectively the programmes are implemented and whether they produce measurable improvements in school enrolment, literacy, numeracy, graduate employability, teacher welfare and the overall quality of education.
Nigeria also continues to face challenges involving inadequate school infrastructure, funding gaps, out-of-school children, learning poverty and industrial disputes in tertiary institutions.
Independent assessments will therefore remain important in determining how far the reported reforms are translating into improvements on the ground.
How to read and download the NESRI A–Z document
The Federal Government has invited Nigerians, parents, teachers, students, education stakeholders and the general public to examine the 26 reforms and the figures presented in the publication.
Interested Nigerians can follow these steps:
- Visit https://edu4pbat.ng
- Locate the NESRI A–Z: Reform to Results publication.
- Open the document.
- Read or download a copy for future reference.
Official information and further reading:
- NESRI official website: https://nesri.education.gov.ng/
- NESRI six pillars: https://nesri.education.gov.ng/pillars
- Federal Ministry of Education: https://education.gov.ng/
- UBEC reports: https://ubec.gov.ng/reports/
- NESRI A–Z publication: https://edu4pbat.ng/
