The newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced the removal of the 18-year age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.
During his inaugural press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Alausa also indicated the possibility of a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education policy.
Despite these changes, the minister made it clear that the Federal Government’s decision to invalidate more than 22,700 degree certificates awarded to Nigerians by certain unaccredited universities in Togo and the Benin Republic remains unchanged.
Addressing the broader challenges in the education sector, Alausa emphasized the importance of practical, skills-based learning to tackle Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis. He stressed that tertiary institutions must go beyond producing graduates each year without adequate plans for job creation. As a solution, the government will work closely with private sector partners to equip students with relevant skills and unlock their potential.
Additionally, Alausa outlined plans to strengthen agricultural universities by empowering them to engage in commercial farming, a strategy aimed at mitigating food insecurity in the country.
