Alausa Targets 10m Education Sector Votes for Tinubu’s Re-election

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has pledged to mobilise 10 million votes from Nigeria’s education sector for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Alausa made the commitment at the inaugural meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Committee Education Sector Mobilisation Working Group.

He said the education sector had the reach and influence to deliver a significant bloc of votes for the President if its various stakeholders worked together.

The minister also pledged to lead a nationwide mobilisation campaign involving students, teachers, lecturers, administrators, governing councils, professional bodies and other stakeholders.

“Nigeria needs continuity. This country, this President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has changed the fortunes of Nigeria,” Alausa said.

He argued that continuity would allow the administration to consolidate its reforms, strengthen the economy, attract investment and create more opportunities for Nigerians.

According to him, the reforms in the education sector also require sustained implementation to achieve their intended impact on human capital development and national growth.

Alausa therefore urged members of the working group to take the mobilisation beyond schools and higher institutions and engage communities across the country.

“If we work hard, we should be able to mobilise 10 million votes from the education sector alone for Mr President,” he stated.

He tasked members with building support within their respective constituencies while maintaining coordination across the different arms of the education sector.

To achieve this, the working group has created sub-groups covering universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, teachers, governing councils, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), counsellors and Senior Special Assistants on Education.

The structure also includes presidential appointees in the education sector who will work with the main committee and the various sub-groups to coordinate mobilisation activities.

Alausa said the initiative would harness the education sector’s nationwide network and translate its numerical strength into a coordinated electoral effort.

He stressed that the 10-million-vote target would require commitment, teamwork and sustained engagement from stakeholders across the sector.

The minister reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s re-election, promising to personally drive the education sector’s mobilisation campaign.

He maintained that the broader objective was to sustain reforms that could improve human capital, strengthen institutions and expand economic opportunities.

The working group is chaired by Alausa, while the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, serves as deputy chairman. The Executive Secretary of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, serves as secretary.

Other members include the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comr. Sunday Asefon; Special Adviser to the Minister on Political Engagement, Adedeji John Demola; National Coordinator of Special Programmes, Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit, Adebayo Onigbanjo; and Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr Ronke Soyombo.

Also on the team are the Executive Secretary of the National Mass Education Commission, Prof Muhammad Dahiru Shuni; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Prof Salisu Shehu; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Dr Abiola Arogundade.

The National Programme Manager of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr Princess Adebowale; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Education and Youth Engagement, Dare Ojepe; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Yetunde Adeniji, are also members