Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 10, 2026.
GOVERNOR of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called for the declaration of a national emergency in Nigeria’s education sector, urging governments at all levels to significantly increase investment in education to secure the country’s future prosperity.
Mbah made the call on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Enugu Education Summit, where he officially unveiled the Enugu State Education Policy at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The summit, themed “Transforming Education for the Future: Leadership, Innovation, Partnership, Financing and Sustainable Reform,” brought together government representatives, education experts, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for transforming the education sector.
The governor maintained that education must be treated as an urgent national priority, not merely through public declarations, but through concrete commitments reflected in government budgets, teacher development, school infrastructure, educational standards and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
“I believe Nigeria has reached the point where we must treat education as a national emergency,” Mbah said.
He argued that the nation’s long-term prosperity depends on the knowledge, skills and capabilities of its people, stressing that every Nigerian child deserves access to quality education capable of preparing them for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
According to the governor, inadequate investment in education could undermine efforts to reduce poverty, expand employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship and build a productive, knowledge-driven economy.
NEW ENUGU EDUCATION POLICY TO GUIDE SECTOR FOR 6–10 YEARS
Unveiling the new policy, Mbah explained that his administration had already commenced its implementation and that the document would serve as a guiding framework for the state’s education sector over the next six to 10 years.
He described the policy as the product of deliberate planning, designed to establish a sustainable direction for education development rather than rely solely on short-term interventions.
The governor also stressed that the state’s approach goes beyond isolated projects, noting that meaningful educational transformation requires coordinated investment in infrastructure, human capital, learning outcomes and the skills students need to succeed in the modern economy.
The policy is expected to provide a longer-term framework for planning and implementing education reforms across Enugu State.
SMART GREEN SCHOOLS AND TEACHER DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS
The administration’s education agenda includes investments in Smart Green Schools, teacher development, foundational learning, digital literacy and experiential learning.
The state government has presented these initiatives as part of its broader strategy to modernise teaching and learning and prepare young people for emerging economic and technological opportunities.
At the summit, UNICEF, UNESCO, the British Council and other education stakeholders commended Enugu State’s emphasis on education transformation.
Representing UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, the organisation’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chilewe, acknowledged the state’s commitment to education through investments in schools, teachers, foundational learning, digital literacy and experiential learning.
She also noted UNICEF’s support for the development of the Enugu State Education Sector Plan 2026–2035.
The recognition highlights the importance of collaboration between government and development partners in strengthening education planning, improving learning conditions and supporting sustainable reforms.
WHAT THE POLICY MEANS FOR ENUGU RESIDENTS
For parents, teachers, students and communities, the critical issue will be how the new policy translates into measurable improvements in educational access, teaching quality and learning outcomes.
Successful implementation will require sustained funding, effective monitoring, adequate teacher support, transparent resource allocation and regular assessment of progress across public schools.
It will also be important to ensure that children in rural communities and disadvantaged households benefit from the reforms, so that improvements in educational infrastructure are matched by equitable access to quality learning.
As the policy moves into implementation, parents, education professionals and other stakeholders will be watching to see how its objectives are translated into practical results in classrooms across the state’s 17 local government areas.
EMV REPORT
Governor Mbah’s call for a national emergency in education places renewed attention on the relationship between education, human capital development and Nigeria’s economic future.
While the unveiling of the Enugu State Education Policy establishes a long-term framework for the sector, its ultimate success will depend on consistent implementation, accountability and demonstrable improvements in the lives of learners.
For Enugu State, the challenge is to ensure that the policy delivers more than ambitious commitments by producing better learning outcomes, stronger educational institutions and young people equipped to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.
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