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Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has been ranked Most Innovative Cabinet Minister of the Year 2025 by Independent Newspapers Limited on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Alausa received the award at a ceremony held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, where the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, represented him.
The Minister posted a statement on X after the event, saying he accepted the recognition with humility, describing it as a reflection of collective efforts to reform Nigeria’s education sector rather than a personal achievement. He said;
“I am deeply honoured to have been named Most Innovative Cabinet Minister of the Year (2025) at the Silver Jubilee Awards organised by Independent Newspapers Limited in Lagos. I receive this recognition with humility, not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the collective work we are doing to transform Nigeria’s education sector.”
I am deeply honoured to have been named Most Innovative Cabinet Minister of the Year (2025) at the Silver Jubilee Awards organised by Independent Newspapers Limited in Lagos.
I receive this recognition with humility — not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the… pic.twitter.com/SfcUyeIKbV
— Dr. Tunji Alausa (@DrTunjiAlausa) April 20, 2026
He credited the progress to a “one-government approach”, a collaboration between federal ministries, education agencies, and state governments.
“This progress has been possible through a one-government approach — partnering with other ministries, strengthening collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education agencies, and working closely with subnational governments to drive reforms across the country,” he added.
Major initiatives under his leadership include strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), expanding education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences (STEMM), and introducing the Student Venture Capital Grant to support student innovators.
Additionally, Alausa acknowledged ongoing challenges in the education sector but said reforms are gaining momentum and implementation is on track.
“These efforts form part of the transformation underway through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President@officialABAT, GCFR. There is still much to do — but the direction is clear. And we are moving!” he said.
It’s pertinent to know that Alausa is a nephrologist by training but was redeployed as Education Minister in October 2024.
