The federal government announced on Wednesday the cancellation of the National Language Policy, which required that the language used for i...
The federal government announced on Wednesday the cancellation of the National Language Policy, which required that the language used for instruction in early childhood and primary education (up to Grade 6) be the mother tongue or the language spoken in the immediate community.
In 2022, the Nigerian Federal Government introduced a National Language Policy (NLP) stating that from Early Child Care Education up to Primary 6, the language of teaching would be the mother tongue or the language spoken in the local community. The policy sought to encourage native languages, acknowledge their equal importance, and enhance early childhood educational results, with English continuing as the official language for higher education and formal environments.
The Education Minister, Dr Olatunji Alausa, announced the end of the policy during the opening event of the Language in Education International Conference 2025, hosted by the British Council in Abuja. He stated that English is now the medium of instruction in Nigerian schools — from primary through to higher education — since the cancellation has removed the use of local community languages as the teaching language in primary schools nationwide.
Alausa stated that Nigerian students have been struggling in public exams due to instruction in their native languages, noting that research conducted by the ministry, which is evidence-based and data-focused, has revealed harm to the education system as students move to higher classes without adequate learning. He assured Nigerians that the current government is dedicated to addressing the issues and decline in education, in accordance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's clear instructions to tackle challenges in the sector and guide it toward sustainable growth.
He asserted that he had the President's authorization to reform Nigeria's education system and guide it toward a sustainable future, "which involves making tough and unpopular choices." "We will make those decisions repeatedly, ensuring that every Nigerian child receives the best possible education," Alausa stated.
He stated, "The National Policy on Language has been revoked. English is now the medium of instruction in our schools, spanning from primary to higher education. As you are aware, one of the most crucial and influential aspects of education is language. This is how the role of language teaching will be enhanced across all subjects. This progress begins at the basic level of education: primary, lower secondary schools, and two additional levels, upper secondary school and tertiary education."
The language policy in Nigeria specifies that the mother-tongue should be utilized during the initial phase of primary education, specifically in Primary One. Therefore, we examined the data at our disposal: is it truly effective for us to teach in the mother tongue? The consensus from our review, which is grounded in evidence and data, along with real-life scenarios across different geopolitical regions, indicates that excessive use of mother-tongue instruction—from Primary One to Primary Six and from JSS One to JSS Three—has prompted some to suggest that the mother-tongue should also be used in secondary school. We have observed significant harm to Nigeria's educational system, and I choose this term deliberately, where students who complete their schooling up to JSS3 and even SS3 have not acquired any meaningful knowledge. They take national examinations—WAEC, JAMB, NECO—and end up failing.
Exams are held in English, but we educate these children using their native language. Additionally, there are many unique circumstances in certain regions. For instance, if you visit Borno State, where the assumed native language is Hausa, a significant portion of the population speaks Kanuri instead. In Lagos, my home state, areas like Ajegunle are predominantly inhabited by people from the southeastern part of the country, yet 90 percent of our teachers come from the southwestern region. Therefore, we have a distinct, divinely given diversity. We appreciate the challenge of ethnic and linguistic variety, but using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in early education—after testing it for 15 years—has not been effective; that is why we have decided to abandon it and return to the approach we used 15 years ago, with English as the primary language of instruction.
He praised the British Council for organizing the significant discussion and for maintaining its collaboration with Nigeria in promoting educational reform and language advancement.
Additionally, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasized Nigeria's dedication to enacting inclusive language-in-education policies that ensure equal learning prospects for every child, irrespective of their linguistic background. She highlighted that language serves as a crucial factor for educational fairness, cultural conservation, and long-term development. "Language is more than just a means of teaching; it is a strong force for achieving educational fairness and national progress," the minister said. "Our language policy functions as both an educational tool and a socio-political requirement."
The event, taking place on 12–13 November 2025, centered around the topic “Inclusive Language-in-Education Policy and Practice — Empowering Every Learner in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The minister noted that Nigeria's language policy, as stated in the National Policy on Education, promotes the use of native languages in initial education, yet acknowledged that implementation has encountered obstacles because of linguistic variety, problems with teacher placement, and insufficient teaching resources. He also pointed out a "digital gap" that restricts access to learning materials in local languages, mentioning that the majority of online content is still in English.
Detailing the government's plan for progress, the minister urged renewed policy alignment, improved teacher development, changes to the curriculum, and the use of technology to support language integration. "Inclusion starts with language that unites all," he stated. "When students are taught in English, they become more confident in national exams and acquire self-assurance, respect, and empowerment."
The minister emphasized that, under President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is dedicated to meeting SDG 4 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16–25) by implementing fair language-in-education policies. "Nigeria is determined to create an education system where no child faces disadvantages due to the language used in teaching," he stated. "This will need strong political commitment, academic collaborations, and regional teamwork."
Julian Parry, who leads the English Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, mentioned that the conference seeks to guarantee that all students, irrespective of their linguistic background, have access to education. Donna McGowan, the Country Director of the British Council in Nigeria, stated that the event will provide stakeholders with a chance to enhance English-language skills and investigate testing methods, uniting policymakers, teachers, researchers, and collaborators from across Africa, South Asia, and the UK to discuss how language can promote inclusion and boost educational results.
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