Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa
Federal Government is planning to introduce an 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical curriculum in tertiary institutions to equip students with relevant skills and improve their employability.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, disclosed this at the 2026 National Town Hall Meeting of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja.
Alausa said the proposed reform would replace the existing 70 per cent theory and 30 per cent practical model with a more hands-on approach tailored to industry needs and national development.
He said the reform would strengthen practical skills in areas such as agriculture, agribusiness, food production and post-harvest management.
The minister disclosed that the curriculum review had produced 33 new and revised National Diploma and Higher National Diploma curricula, three National Certificate in Education curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards.
He stressed that investments in infrastructure, staff development and equipment must be supported by relevant curricula to ensure students acquire marketable skills.
Alausa also called for stronger partnerships among TETFund, tertiary institutions, regulatory agencies and the private sector, emphasising adequate funding, research, digital transformation and inclusive education.
He said adequate funding, sound financial management and proper maintenance of facilities were essential for the sustainability of tertiary institutions.
The minister stressed the need to ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent disadvantaged Nigerians from accessing and completing tertiary education.
He said the ministry was ready to collaborate with TETFund and other stakeholders to promote demand-driven research, digital transformation, staff development and inclusive education.
He stated, “This TETFund meeting must therefore move beyond dialogue to practical recommendations and clear, concise deliverable actions.”
Meanwhile, TETFund Executive Secretary, Sunday Echono, said more than 480 projects across beneficiary institutions were ready for inauguration.
He added that the fund was supporting student innovation, modern hostels in 114 institutions, transportation in 42 institutions and expanded research and digital learning opportunities.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, said investment in tertiary education remained essential to human capital development and Nigeria’s economic growth
