Alausa Bags 2026 Sun Minister Of The Year Award, Dedicates Honour To Nigerian Teachers, Learners

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has emerged winner of the 2026 Sun Minister of the Year Award, dedicating the honour to Nigerian teachers, students and young people while pledging to intensify efforts to reposition the country’s education sector for quality learning, employability and national development.

Alausa, who received the prestigious award at the 2026 Sun Awards ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the recognition was not a personal achievement but a testament to the collective commitment of teachers, education administrators, institutional leaders, development partners and stakeholders working to transform Nigeria’s education system.

He said the award would further strengthen his resolve to advance the Federal Government’s education reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with particular emphasis on equipping Nigerian children and young people with relevant knowledge and globally competitive skills.

In his acceptance speech, the Minister expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his confidence, support and leadership, noting that the administration’s recognition of education as a critical driver of human capital development had provided the impetus for far reaching reforms across the sector.

He described the award as a reflection of the President’s determination to secure a better future for Nigerian children and build an education system capable of delivering quality learning, relevant skills and sustainable opportunities.

The Minister also acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, particularly her advocacy for education, children’s welfare and the protection of girls facing circumstances that threaten their access to and continued participation in education.

Highlighting the administration’s reform agenda, Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education was advancing the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at expanding access to education, improving teaching and learning, strengthening technical and vocational education, and promoting the use of reliable data for effective policy formulation and implementation.

He stressed that the government’s ambition went beyond enrolling children in schools, explaining that the priority was to ensure that every Nigerian child receives quality education comparable to international standards and acquires the competencies required to compete in the global economy.

Central to this vision, he said, was the Ministry’s commitment to repositioning education towards employability, productivity and economic relevance through its philosophy of “Learn to Work, not just Teach to Learn.”

According to him, the objective is to ensure that Nigerian graduates leave educational institutions with practical knowledge, relevant skills and the capacity to secure decent, quality and high paying jobs, rather than merely obtaining certificates without the competencies required by the labour market.

Alausa reiterated President Tinubu’s charge that every Nigerian child must have access to the highest quality of education, stressing that the directive would continue to guide the Ministry’s policies, programmes and interventions.

He maintained that the true measure of educational reform must be its impact on classrooms and the difference it makes in the lives, opportunities and future prospects of Nigerian learners.

In dedicating the award, the Minister described teachers as indispensable partners in the transformation of the nation’s education sector, acknowledging their sacrifices, dedication and commitment to shaping future generations.

He equally dedicated the recognition to Nigerian children and young people, whose aspirations, he said, remained the driving force behind the Ministry’s reforms.

The Minister expressed gratitude to his family for their love and sacrifices, friends who travelled from far and near to celebrate with him, as well as partners across government, industry and civil society for their continued support.

He also commended the Board of Editors, Management and Staff of The Sun Publishing Limited for the recognition and its sustained coverage of government activities, particularly developments in the education sector and other areas of the economy.

Describing the award as both an encouragement and a greater responsibility, Alausa assured Nigerians that the Ministry would sustain the pace of reforms, deepen stakeholder collaboration and remain focused on delivering measurable improvements in access, learning outcomes and the overall quality of education.

He said the recognition would further inspire the Ministry to pursue an education system that prepares Nigerian children not only for academic excellence but also for meaningful employment, innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.

The award comes as the Federal Government continues to position education as a strategic driver of human capital development, national productivity, inclusive economic growth and sustainable prosperity under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.