The Minister of Education, Moruf Alausa, has reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve under President Bola Tinubu to restore respect for the teaching profession and overhaul Nigeria’s education curriculum to align with the demands of the modern world.

Alausa made this known on Thursday in a keynote speech at a colloquium themed “The Future of Africa,” held in honour of former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran as part of his 80th birthday celebration at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Represented by the University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, Alausa said the government’s priority is to transform the education sector by equipping young Nigerians with innovation, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking skills.

“It is a future that is anchored on our education pedestal. The future demands that we move beyond rhetoric and embrace decisive action in four key areas,” he stated.

He explained further:

“Number one, curriculum revolution and the 21st-century skills. The Africa of tomorrow needs problem solvers, innovators and creators. Our education curriculum from primary to tertiary levels must be aggressively redesigned to prioritise science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, and medical sciences, which we refer to as critical thinking, critical literacy and entrepreneurship. We must produce graduates who are not just job seekers but job creators.

Two, investment in teacher quality. No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. The future requires a new generation of educators, well-trained, technologically adept, adequately remunerated and deeply valued. We are committed to restoring the dignity of the teaching profession and making it the first-choice career for our best brains.

Three, access, equity and inclusion. The future of Africa cannot be built on the talents of a few. We must dismantle all barriers — political, geographical and economic — that will prevent any African child from accessing quality education. This includes a strong focus on out-of-school children, girl-child education and creating inclusive learning environments for all.”

After the event, the celebrant, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, told journalists that the colloquium served as a platform to reflect on Nigeria’s challenges and prospects.

“People talk about the good old days and yet it is not that God has withdrawn from us the natural resources that He gave us, the human resources and so on. In fact, what is happening now is that we are discovering more things hidden under the ground in Africa, Nigeria in particular, that were never discovered before, which means that our lives ought to be better,” he said.

“But when you consider certain things happening, one is frightened. You begin to ask yourself, if things are like this and it continues this way, what kind of future do we have? That is a salient question and a very important issue.

God has given me the opportunity to bring together some colleagues, some patriots that are also passionate about this country, to think, to bring their perspective, and also to think forward on what we need to do to ensure that we get a future that will make us happier than we are.”

The colloquium was attended by notable dignitaries, including Ambassadors Akinyemi Bolaji and Yemi Farounbi; UI Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; Prof. Ben Obi; Prof. Ayo Fadahunsi; Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa; Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; Prof. Hassan Saliu; and Prof. Jerry Ugokwe