The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level committee to develop guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) aimed at overhauling Nigeria's education infrastructure, especially in secondary and tertiary institutions.
The initiative, led by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, seeks to unlock private sector funding and expertise to address persistent infrastructural and capacity gaps within the sector. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, June 27, 2025, Dr. Alausa emphasized the need for innovative financing models, noting that public funds alone cannot meet the growing demands of the education system.
“Government cannot do it alone,” the Minister said. “We must leverage private funding to modernize and sustain our educational system. The PPP guidelines will ensure strategic, transparent, and impactful private involvement.”
He acknowledged ongoing efforts through the 2025 budget and TETFund interventions but described them as insufficient to meet current challenges, calling for a shift from traditional methods of funding education.
The committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Education (represented by the Director of Special Duties), comprises directors from the Ministry of Education and representatives from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Ministry of Housing, and other relevant stakeholders.
Its mandate includes drafting PPP benchmarks, reviewing existing legal frameworks, defining the roles of stakeholders, setting performance indicators, establishing oversight mechanisms, and proposing penalties for non-compliance. The committee is expected to submit its final report within three months.
Dr. Alausa expressed optimism that the outcome could serve as a reference for other government ministries: “If we do this right, this document can be a model for other ministries.”
Other stakeholders at the event, including representatives of the Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, and senior officials of the Ministry, reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative and its potential to transform the nation’s education landscape.
