Education
FG Unveils Reports to Guide Policy Reforms for Girls’ Education
Torough David, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education has unveiled two strategic knowledge products, aimed at delivering inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all girls.
At a One-Day Dissemination Session on Strengthening Girls’ Education in Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Education, Prof.
Suwaiba Ahmad emphasised that the evidence from the reports would guide policy reforms and investments.The two projects are: “State of Girl-Child Education in Ten States of Nigeria’’ and “Analysis of State-Level Financing of Girl-Child Education in Nigeria’’.
Ahmad also announced plans to roll out a new initiative aimed at getting more out-of-school girls back into classrooms.
“These two knowledge products are strategic investments and tools designed to help us collectively.
“It will help us understand where we are, what we must change, and how we must act to ensure every Nigerian girl can access, remain in, and thrive through education,” she said
She said the Girls’ Education Performance Assessment report offered a comprehensive review of progress at both federal and state levels.
This will help highlight successful policies that have improved enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes for girls through community engagement and donor support.
Ahmad added that the Girls’ Education Financing in Nigeria would examine public and private resource allocation, disbursement, and utilisation.
“It is imperative that we move toward gender-responsive budgeting, efficient resource utilisation, and stronger coordination between federal, state, and local governments,” she said.
The Minister appealed for collaborative action, urging stakeholders not to let the new reports “die by dust on shelves, but to transform them into effective policies, budgets, and partnerships that would drive change’’.
Also, the Chief Executive, Malala Fund, Nabila Aguele, who spoke virtually, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education sector.
Aguele urged policymakers to translate new evidence on education financing and girls’ schooling into concrete and gender-responsive reforms.
“Today’s event marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to advance girls’ education in Nigeria.
“The knowledge products being shared are not just reports. They are tools for actions, that will give us the evidence we need to make more informed, equitable, and impactful decisions for Nigeria’s girls and, ultimately, for all of us,” she said.
Speaking on the State Girl-Child Education in 10 states, Mr Sunkanmi Adefadoju, Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant at System Strategy and Policy Lab (SSPl), called on the need to improve infrastructure and safety of girls.
Adefadoju said that findings revealed a wide disparity in education budget allocation in the 10 states reviewed.
“Education budget in the 10 states has wide disparities. Jigawa (32 per cent), Kano (31 per cent), Kaduna (26 per cent), which demonstrates strong commitment, while Akwa Ibom (6 per cent), Sokoto (8 per cent) and Gombe (9.8 per cent) allocate minimal share to education.
“There is lack of dedicated budget lines for girls’ education in most states which means that interventions are not consistently promised or sustained.
“For example, Borno supports girls with incentives in all JSS and cash transfers in 90% per cent, while Sokoto and Jigawa have no targeted programme.
“Akwa Ibom spends only 6 per cent on education with no funds specifically for girls, which shows a gap between policy and action,” he said.
He, therefore, recommended a scale-up of incentives and cash transfer by institutionalising scholarships and school feeding programme in schools.
He also recommended the strengthening of budget and emergency preparedness for states.
The event brought together 10 State Commissioners of Education, partners from the Malala Fund, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), representative from UNESCO, and other key stakeholders.
FG Seeks Support to Scale up Water Testing Kits
The Federal Government on Wednesday appealed to development partners to support the large-scale production and distribution of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) vials used for water quality testing across the country.
Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Elizabeth Ugoh made the appeal during the quarterly meeting of the National Core Group on Water Quality in Abuja.
She explained that H₂S vials, which were used to detect bacterial contamination, particularly from faecal matter, had already been piloted in UNICEF-supported states with promising results.
Ugoh said the ministry had planned a comprehensive needs assessment to guide national scale-up, but efforts have been limited by inadequate funding.
“We were advised to intensify awareness and demand creation, but many states cited lack of funding as a major constraint. In January, we could only produce enough kits for four or five states,” she noted.
While ministry laboratories had the capacity for production, Ugoh stressed that expanding operations without external support remained difficult.
She noted that most vials currently used in community-based water monitoring were supplied by UNICEF, raising concerns about sustainability after a broader national rollout.
She called for strategic partnerships and highlighted the potential role of the ministry’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) unit in mobilising support.
Also speaking at the meeting, Dr Bolu Onabolu of the Network of Female Professionals in WASH pointed to poor sewage management as a key factor contributing to rising nitrate levels in water sources.
She recommended reviewing the technical guidelines of the National Water Resources Institute to address safe containment systems, especially in areas with high water tables.
Onabolu called for enhanced collaboration with the National Task Group on Sanitation, better enforcement from Environmental Health Officers and Town Planners, and stronger public awareness on the health risks of improper faecal waste disposal.
“Many households make cost-based decisions without realising the groundwater contamination risks.
“We need a coordinated communication strategy to drive behaviour change,” she said.
Ibe Chinedu of the FCT Water Board urged the inclusion of private water producers in stakeholder dialogues.
He raised concerns about low pH levels in several bottled water brands, attributed to reverse osmosis treatment, and called for clear regulations on remineralisation.
He also cited contamination risks from illegal pipe connections, poor consumer practices, and seasonal factors affecting water quality.
Presenting findings from a national water quality assessment, Mr Babalola Emmanuel, Chief Scientific Officer at the ministry, revealed high levels of contamination across several states.
He listed excessive concentrations of fluoride, ammonia, cyanide, cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, and nitrate, with nitrate detected at 156 sites in 17 states.
He said a validation exercise would be carried out using representative sampling, and a technical report would be developed ahead of wider stakeholder engagement.
In an interview, Obinna Ogbodo, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator at WaterAid, said that ensuring water quality was vital to public health and sustainable development.
He said climate change was already worsening water contamination and limiting access to safe drinking water in many areas.
Ogbodo added that WaterAid was working with government institutions and local partners to strengthen water safety plans, improve hygiene behaviour change, and support climate-resilient WASH infrastructure.
He said the organisation was also contributing to national policy dialogue and building local WASH capacity to ensure inclusive access to water and sanitation, particularly for marginalised communities.
The meeting brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development agencies, NGOs, and water quality experts.
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From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
As a result of the unresolved renegotiation between Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Union has sent a message of
Imminent danger to industrial harmony in Nigerian University system.
In a press statement in Calabar, ASUU has warned that they would embark on an indefinite strict action in a few days to come because of federal government’s insincerity in keeping to terms after the 14-day warning strike and another four weeks of grace was given which will expire on the 21st of November 2025.
According to them, “We have gathered not merely as members of ASUU, but as citizens whose patience has been stretched far beyond its elastic limits.
Occasioned by broken promises, shattered dreams, and deepening crises in the education sector, we hereby express deep concern over government’s inconsistency and dilatory approach to agreements, engagements and negotiations”.They stated that the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement was not a gift. It was an obligation to Nigerian University Lecturers. Government owes Lecturers their due wages and her citizens and the dignity of decent and functional education.
They maintained that the fight is for the survival of Nigeria’s intellectual soul, while outlining the issues in contention to include: renegotiation of workers’ Conditions of Service since 2009 in tandem with changing times and inflationary trends over the years, funding for revitalization of infrastructures, University autonomy, academic freedom, undue proliferation of Universities without assured sustainable funding.
The Union stressed further that Government grandstanding, insensitivity and silence are deliberate to destroy academic system and ASUU is ready to shut down totally and completely in a few days.
Recall that ASUU gave the FGN 14-day ultimatum to conclude the renegotiation which according to them was enough to made government do the needful and they watched to no avail. ASUU then graduated to 2 weeks Warning Strike, which was suspended after NEC of 22nd October, 2025 due to the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress, parents and students to create enabling opportunity for a meaningful dialogue.
“Let the Federal Government return to the path of truth, fairness and good conscience. Let the government hear us clearly: they cannot destroy public education, starve lecturers with a slavish salary, deduct and withhold part of legitimate Lecturers salaries by way of 3rd party deductions, deny students a conducive environment for effective learning and expect peace”.
“ASUU has been consistent: we are not asking for personal enrichment. We are demanding that the government fulfills its obligations to the Nigerian people by funding education properly, otherwise, we shall resume the STRIKE itself; not the father or mother of all strikes”.
“This will be a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action. We are ready to shut down for as long as the government wants it to last because he who has been pushed down fears no fall Education is the foundation of personal and national development,” the stated.
“The problem is not paucity of funds as the government posits but lack of political will to invest in the development of Nigeria. The figures and empirical data from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has revealed that in 2022, States received N3.02 trillion while in 2024, the figures rose to N5.81 trillion with an increase of over 62%. Similarly, federal allocations rose from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion with an increase of over 70%. This is clear evidence that the government has the capacity to pay Lecturers”. They maintained.
The Federal Government has begun training no fewer than 100,000 youths in 1,500 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers across the country.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id, made the announcement on Monday in Kano.
This was during an inspection visit to Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where Sa’id assessed ongoing vocational training initiatives supported by the ministry.
“The administration is committed to expanding opportunities for our youths to acquire industry-relevant skills that will make them self-reliant and employable,” she said.
The minister said that the programme covered a wide range of trades including carpentry, welding, plumbing, ICT, automobile repair, tailoring, among other skills in high demand.
She said that the initiative was designed to ensure that beneficiaries of the programme became self-reliant, job creators and active contributors to the nation’s economic growth.
According to her, the provision of starter packs will complement the government’s drive to reducing unemployment and addressing the persistent skills gap in the country.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to strengthening technical and vocational education because it remains a critical pathway to empowering young Nigerians.
“Providing starter packs will enable our youths to put their training into practical use immediately,” she said.
Sa’id commended BUK for its commitment toward implementing the programme.
She said that the ministry would continue to partner institutions that promoted innovation, productivity and entrepreneurship.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, BUK, Prof. Haruna Musa, said the programme was timely as the country continued to grapple with low employability, reduced productivity and slow economic growth.
Those, he said, were due to inadequate skills among its youth population.
Musa was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ahmad Tsauni.
He said the programme was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical and entrepreneurial skills that would enhance job creation, innovation and national development.
Musa encouraged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity by learning diligently and transforming themselves into agents of positive change in their communities.
“BUK will continue to invest in research, innovation and strategic partnerships to expand opportunities for youth employment and industrial growth,” he said
The vice-chancellor commended the Federal Ministry of Education and other partners for their support in ensuring the successful take-off of the programme.
A beneficiary, Muhammad Ali lauded the government for, what he described as, the timely gesture.
He expressed appreciation, describing the initiative as a crucial step toward youth empowerment and national development.
Mainstream Energy Solutions, a privately-owned power-generating company, has offered to support infrastructure renewal at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Zaria by the Director, Public Affairs Directorate of the university, Malam Auwalu Umar.
He said the company also announced plans to partner with the institution on its 45th convocation scheduled for January 2026.
According to him, the form has also pledged to assist in the upgrade of the university’s internal roads, most of which were constructed in the 1960s and have never been rehabilitated.
“The institution’s nearly 30 kilometres of internal roads across its two campuses are currently in a state of near collapse.
“The company also indicated readiness to support the rehabilitation of toilets and improvement of water supply on the campuses.
“As part of preparations for the convocation, the company will give the 1,000-seater Abdullahi Mahadi Conference Centre a facelift ahead of the convocation lecture,” Umar said.
He quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, as expressing deep appreciation for what he described as a long-standing and growing partnership since 2017.
He recalled paying a courtesy visit to the company in Abuja earlier in the week to thank it for its sustained support.
He stated that mainstream energy’s interventions had consistently come at crucial moments, especially when the university’s energy cost escalated to an unsustainable N370 million in May 2025.
Ahmed said the university was particularly excited about the company’s plan to replicate a Kainji Dam-model power plant at ABU’s Faculty of Engineering; a project expected to revolutionise practical training and research.
He also described as “a powerful demonstration of belief in the future of Nigerian youths” the firm’s decision last week to convey 20 ABU students via chartered flight to the Kainji facility for a hands-on excursion.
“Mainstream Energy Solutions has truly set a benchmark for industry-academia collaboration in Nigeria, aligned with national development goals,” Ahmed said.
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