The maiden edition of the National Education Quality Assurance Policy Committee meeting has commenced at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, organized by the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service Department of the Ministry of Education. The three-day meeting, scheduled from September 2 to 4, is being held under the theme “Improving Education Quality Assurance Policies, Processes, and Practices in Nigeria.”

Declaring the meeting open on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as both timely and paramount. Represented by Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, and Ayodele Samson, Director/Coordinating Evaluator, Federal Education Quality Assurance, Kaduna State Office, the minister stressed the need to prioritize the quality of education in Nigeria.

“It is time we move beyond merely ensuring access to education and begin to focus on the quality of what is being delivered,” Alausa said.

He explained that the committee was not conceived as another layer of bureaucracy but rather as a strategic intervention to reposition education quality assurance as a central pillar of Nigeria’s education agenda.

“We are here to review, refine, and revitalize the policies, processes, and practices that govern how we ensure quality at the basic and secondary levels of education,” he stated.

According to him, the future of education in Nigeria must focus on harmonizing standards across the sector while strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems.

“This includes planning to leverage technology for real-time data collection and analysis, ensuring inclusiveness and accessibility of quality assurance to institutions, especially in underserved areas,” the minister added.

In his remarks, Adegboye Adekunle, Director of the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service Department, said the establishment of the committee marked the culmination of extensive peer reviews, stakeholder consultations, and robust deliberations.

“This exercise is aimed at addressing the foundational pillars of Nigeria’s educational system. We have identified disparities in learning outcomes as some of the challenges that must be tackled,” he noted.

Adekunle also underscored the importance of curriculum reform, improved teacher welfare, and addressing infrastructure gaps.

“There is an urgent need to align education with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy,” he said.

“The meeting will provide strategic direction, oversight, and technical leadership in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of a comprehensive quality assurance framework for all levels of education in Nigeria. Together, let us build an education system that we can all be proud of—one that nurtures talent, fosters innovation, and drives national transformation.”

Also speaking, Prof. Sadiya Sani-Daura, Director and Chief Executive Officer of NTI, expressed optimism that the deliberations would generate actionable strategies for strengthening quality assurance nationwide.

“The conversations and recommendations from this meeting will yield valuable insights to make Nigeria’s education system stronger and more resilient,” she said.

The meeting features paper presentations, technical sessions, and active participation from Quality Assurance Directors across states, representatives of FCDO/PLANE, and other key stakeholders