Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has expressed strong support for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education initiatives by the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN).
Speaking at an event, the Minister emphasized the need for impactful technical and vocational education that aligns with the nation’s unique demographic challenges.
Dr. Alausa pointed out that while many universities continue to produce graduates, some of them struggle to find relevance in the job market. He stressed that vocational and technical education, particularly in the healthcare sector, offers greater opportunities. “If we train 1,000 nurses today or more, they will still have jobs waiting for them,” he remarked.
He further stated that Nigeria’s education system must focus on lifelong learning, technology adoption, and digital transformation. “Building structures alone will not solve our challenges. With our growing population, what we need is to educate our youth effectively and embrace technology,” he said.
The Minister urged STAN to establish digital learning platforms nationwide, similar to the online education model of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He emphasized that education should create real impact rather than being confined to physical buildings. “It is not about what goes inside the buildings, but what happens next,” he concluded.
In her remarks, the Director of Science and Technology, Dr. Muyiba Olodo, reaffirmed STAN’s long-standing partnership in advancing STEM education. She highlighted STAN’s involvement in capacity-building programs and solicited the Minister’s support for establishing a STEM education center.
Professor Ben Akpan, representing STAN’s Governing Council, also called on the Minister to support the proposed STEM center, explaining its framework for advancing science, technology, and engineering education in Nigeria. He provided an overview of the building’s structure, its operational modalities, and its expected impact.
As part of the event, Professor Akpan invited Dr. Alausa to STAN’s Annual Council Meeting, scheduled to be held at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He also announced that the Minister would be honored with the prestigious STAN Fellowship Award in recognition of his contributions to STEM education in Nigeria.
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