This afternoon in Samarkan, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, delivered Nigeria’s National Statement at the ongoing 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference, on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the people of Nigeria.
Prof. Suwaiba reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to UNESCO’s mission of peace, education, science, culture, and communication under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She congratulated the newly elected President of the Conference, H.E. Khondker M. Talha, and commended outgoing Director-General Audrey Azoulay for her visionary leadership, while welcoming Prof. Khaled El-Enany as the next Director-General.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress, Prof. Ahmad underscored the following:
- Education: The launch of the National EdTech Strategy to transform learning through digital tools, solar-powered classrooms, and broadband connectivity in rural areas.
- Social Investment: The Renewed Hope Home-Grown School Feeding Programme now provides daily meals to 20 million children, advancing access to education and nutrition.
- Skills Development: Expansion of TVET and STEM programmes through the National Skills Qualification Framework and interest-free student loans via NELFUND.
- Science & Innovation: Nigeria’s adoption of UNESCO’s CRIDA methodology for climate governance, coupled with Cleantech Innovation and satellite expansion for agriculture and disaster management.
- Culture & Media: Ongoing reforms to Nigeria’s National Cultural Policy and the establishment of the first UNESCO Category 2 Institute on Media and Information Literacy (IMILI) in Africa.
She reiterated Nigeria’s appreciation for UNESCO’s partnership and reaffirmed the country’s support for the 43 C/5 Programme and Budget, pledging continued collaboration in advancing education as a right, science for development, culture for unity, and information for democracy.
Nigeria’s statement concluded with a call for global cooperation to advance knowledge, creativity, and dialogue, so that all people may “renew hope” in a shared future.
