Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has been honoured as the 2026 ‘Man of the Year’ by the African Cultural Festival in the United States and presented with the Key to the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Alausa received the honours at the grand finale of the African Cultural Festival, held in Harrisburg under the theme, ‘The Great Reunion: Culture, Education, and Collaboration’.
The recognition provided an opportunity for the minister to call for stronger partnerships between Nigeria and its diaspora to advance education, research, innovation, technology transfer and human capital development.
Alausa said the Federal Government’s education transformation agenda covers the entire education value chain, from basic and secondary education to technical, vocational and tertiary education.
He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, expanded technical and vocational training, curriculum modernisation, medical education, teacher development and investment in laboratories, simulation centres, hostels and other critical infrastructure as key areas of the government’s education reform programme.
The minister also urged Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly professionals, academics and researchers, to contribute their expertise and networks to Nigeria’s education development through the BRIDGE programme, which focuses on Bridging Research, Innovation, Development and Global Expertise.
According to Alausa, diaspora professionals can mentor students and young academics, contribute to research, deliver specialised lectures, support curriculum development, establish institutional partnerships and facilitate technology transfer without necessarily relocating permanently to Nigeria.
He said such collaboration reflected the essence of the festival’s ‘Great Reunion’ theme by connecting Africa and its global community through education, culture, innovation and purposeful collaboration.
The minister also met with the DuduPlugs team during the festival. Leila Steinberg said the organisation was interested in helping young Africans develop their talents, culture, ideas and intellectual property while strengthening connections between Nigerian talent and the global community.
DuduPlugs Chief Executive Officer, Wole Adeniyi, said the organisation would build on its engagement with the minister by developing a legacy programme focused on technology transfer, modern innovation and robotics for Nigerians.
Alausa dedicated the recognition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, education officials, stakeholders and Nigerian children and young people, whom he described as being at the heart of the country’s education reform agenda.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to partnerships that expand educational opportunities, strengthen skills, improve quality and relevance, and connect Nigeria’s education system to global knowledge, innovation and technology.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.