Education Summit 2026 took centre stage in Abuja as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Grace Ike, called on journalists, policymakers and education stakeholders to adopt an evidence-based approach to assessing the Federal Government’s education reforms, insisting that success should be measured by tangible improvements in classrooms across Nigeria.
Key Highlights:
- Grace Ike urges stakeholders to focus on classroom outcomes, not political rhetoric.
- NUJ FCT chairman identifies inadequate funding, poor infrastructure and learning poverty as major challenges.
- Journalists tasked with promoting accountability through in-depth education reporting.
- Education Minister announces nationwide household survey to determine Nigeria’s actual out-of-school children population.
- Federal Government says over one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms in the past two years.
- NBS to partner the Ministry of Education on data-driven education planning.
Ike made the call while delivering her keynote address at the 2026 Education Summit, organised by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN).
Speaking on the theme, “Three Years of the Tinubu Administration: Assessing Reforms, Achievements and Challenges in Nigeria’s Education Sector,” she described the summit as timely and critical to advancing sustainable national development.
According to her, education remains the bedrock of national growth and should be evaluated based on measurable improvements in teaching quality, learning outcomes, school infrastructure, teacher development and access to education, particularly in underserved communities.
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She stressed that government reforms should be judged by their impact on classrooms rather than political narratives or public perception.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition the education sector, Ike noted that significant challenges still require urgent attention.
She identified inadequate funding, deteriorating infrastructure, industrial disputes, the rising number of out-of-school children, learning poverty, unequal access to quality education and weak alignment between education and labour market demands as critical issues confronting the sector.
“Reform is a process, and no government can solve decades of structural weakness in a short time,” she said, adding that sustained commitment and strong political will are essential to achieving lasting improvements.
The NUJ FCT chairman also challenged journalists to play a more strategic role in driving education reforms through accurate, balanced and investigative reporting.
She urged education correspondents to amplify the voices of teachers, students, parents and school administrators while using journalism as a tool to promote accountability and advocate policies that improve learning outcomes nationwide.
According to Ike, education extends far beyond classroom instruction, serving as a catalyst for national productivity, innovation, social stability and human capital development.
She encouraged participants to ensure that discussions at the summit translate into practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s education system.
Commending the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) for organising the summit, Ike expressed optimism that the deliberations would contribute meaningfully to shaping future education policies.
“Let this not be just another event with fine speeches, but a meaningful conversation that contributes to real change in Nigeria’s education sector,” she said.
FG to Conduct Nationwide Survey on Out-of-School Children
Also speaking at the summit, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced that the Federal Government will undertake a comprehensive nationwide household survey to determine the actual number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
He said the exercise would be conducted in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to generate credible data for education planning and policy implementation.
According to the minister, the widely cited estimate of between 15 million and 20 million out-of-school children no longer accurately reflects the current situation, making a fresh nationwide assessment necessary.
Alausa explained that the survey would provide reliable information on the scale and geographical distribution of the challenge, enabling government interventions to be better targeted.
He disclosed that more than one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms over the past two years but maintained that accurate statistics remain essential for measuring progress and designing effective education programmes.
The minister reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, noting that credible data would enhance transparency and enable citizens and the media to hold public officials accountable.
He also encouraged journalists to move beyond routine event reporting by embracing investigative journalism that exposes gaps in the education sector and tracks government performance using verified facts and data.
