The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has reaffirmed his commitment to deepening collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to ensure every Nigerian child has access to quality education.
Dr. Alausa made the remarks while commending the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education in Nigeria (COSCEN) for hosting its inaugural peer-learning webinar, describing the initiative as a “timely and strategic platform” for fostering federal–state cooperation in addressing the challenge of out-of-school children. He highlighted that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reinforces the Ministry’s mandate to deliver high-quality education that meets global standards.
The Minister emphasized that reducing out-of-school children requires coordinated reforms, shared accountability, and evidence-based interventions across both federal and state levels. He also stressed the need for state reforms to align with national frameworks and recognized the complementary role of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education in supporting targeted interventions.
Speaking at the event, COSCEN Chairman Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe said the peer-learning series is designed to deepen collaboration among State Commissioners of Education and harmonize state initiatives with federal policies. He noted that the platform allows states to share practical solutions and align strategies with national interventions to achieve measurable outcomes for children.
The webinar, scheduled for 25 February 2026 via Microsoft Teams, will feature the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Gombe State, Aishatu Umar Maigari, who will present the state’s innovative and data-driven approaches that have improved enrolment and created scalable models adaptable across Nigeria’s diverse education systems.
Also contributing to the discussion, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, will provide a national perspective, highlighting how federal policies and programmes are strengthening state efforts to expand access to education.
Dr. Leo Ebenezer of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, serving as COSCEN’s National Coordinator, described the webinar as an opportunity for states to share experiences and align strategies to enhance enrolment, retention, and equity in education nationwide.
Through strengthened collaboration, shared learning, and policy alignment, COSCEN and its partners continue to drive a unified national effort to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality education for all Nigerian children.
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