Our Federal Ministry of Education situtiated at Block 5A (3rd Floor), Federal
Secretariat Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, P.M.B. 146, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria,
Since 1960 till date our almighty Education Sector
has witnessed as head of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) the following:
For 7 years Aja Nwachukwu (1958 to 1965)
For 2 years Richard Akinjide (1965 to 1967)
Wenike Briggs (1967 to 1970) for about 2 years
A. Y. Eke (1970 to 1975) about 5 years
Ahmadu A Alli (1975 to 1978) just 1year
G. B. Leton (1978 to 1979) just 1 year
Sylvester Ugoh (1979 to 1982) for 3 years
Alhaji B. Usman (1979 to 1982)
Elizabeth Iyase (1979 to 1982)
I. C. Madubuike (1982 to 1983)
L. A. Bamigbaiye (1982 to 1983)
Sunday Afolabi (September to December 1983)
Alhaji Y. Abdullahi (1984 to 1985)
Alhaji Ibrahim (1985)
Jubril Aminu (1985 to 1989)
Babs Fafunwa (1990 to 1992)
Ben Nwabueze (January 1993 to August 1993)
A. I. Imogie (January 1993 to November 1993)
Alhaji Dongodaji (January 1993 to January 1994)
Iyorchia Ayu (January 1994 to February 1995)
Alhaji Wada Nas (January 1995 to February 1995)
M. T. Liman (February 1995 to December 1997)
Iyabo Anisulowo (February 1997 to December 1997)
Alhaji D. Birmah (December 1997 to June 1998)
A. N. Achunine (December 1997 to June 1998)
Olaiya Oni (August 1998 to May 1999)
Alhaji S. Saadu (August 1998 to May 1999)
Tunde Adeniran (June 1999 to January 2001)
Alhaji Lawam Batagarawa (June 1999 to 2001)
Babalola Borishade (February 2001 to June 2003)
Alhaji Bello Usman (February 2001 to June 2003)
F. N. C. Osuji (July 2003 to February 2005)
Hajia Bintu Musa (July 2003 to June 2005)
Chinwe Obaji (June 2005 to June 2006)
Halima Tayo Alao (June 2005 to 2006)
Grace Ogwuche (February 2006 to June 2006)
Oby Ezekwesili (June 2006 to April 2007)
Sayadi Abba Ruma (June 2006 to April 2007)
Adewunmi Abitoye (June 2006 to May 2007)
Igwe Aja Nwachukwu (June 2007 to December 2008)
Jerry Agada (June 2007 to December 2008)
Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku (June 2007 - ?)
Sam Egwu (December 2008 to March 2010)
Ruqqayat Rufai (April 2010 – September 2013)
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (2014 - Present)
For over 56years the education sector has witnessed 46 heads of an averagely 1.28years in office each. With about 11 women in all, some Ministers we can never forget about, some we don't even know anything about them any longer.
The longest serving Minister of Education in the history of this country was Aja Nwachukwu, who in the “brief shining moments” of Nigeria, spent eight years in the Ministry.
He was followed by Chief A.Y Eke, five years and Prof Jubril Aminu, four years. If you look at the years of political crises, such as 1983, when Shagari’s regime was terminated, and the years following June 12 crisis of 1993 to 1999, they coincide with shortest tenures in the Ministry. Things began to look up again from June 1999, the return of democracy, when some Ministers spent between two to three years.
One man our education sector and the nation at large can never forget is our very own Late Babatunde Fafunwa of the 1990s, we read of books, journals, etc and we see his comments, suggestions, philosophies that are still some what relevant to our present world..... What a man!
Is that the tenures of the ministers are too short?
Are they square pegs in Round holes?
We say we have moved forward evidently since 1960?
Are the Issues of our Education sectors too big to solve?
Are we not ready to go the extra mile?
Is it the Constant Change of Government that is our issue?
Why this sector is not improving unlike every other sector of the economy is a huge concern to us.....
How long should a minister spend in office, or is there no particularly during of years in Office?
Is it that Politics is interfering in our sector?
Nigeria which way to go?
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