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NigeriaEducationPolicy as the federal government suspends the use of indigenous languages in schools, directing teachers to adopt English as the sole medium of instruction across all levels of education.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has officially suspended the use of indigenous languages as the medium of teaching in schools, mandating that English be used exclusively for instruction from pre-primary to tertiary levels.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday during the Language in Education International Conference 2025, organised by the British Council in Abuja.
Policy Shift Toward English Instruction
The two-day conference, themed “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner,” brought together policymakers, educators, researchers, and development partners from Africa, South Asia, and the UK to discuss strategies for promoting equitable and quality education through language.
Dr. Alausa explained that while preserving indigenous languages remains vital for cultural identity, English would now serve as the primary language of instruction to improve comprehension, learning outcomes, and global competitiveness.
Rationale Behind the Decision
According to the minister, English serves as a unifying tool across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic landscape, offering students broader access to global knowledge, technology, and international opportunities.
He added that the decision was based on data-driven evidence, showing that excessive reliance on mother tongue instruction in some regions had negatively impacted students’ performance in national examinations such as WAEC, NECO, and JAMB.
British Council’s Position
In a related development, the British Council reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable education through language-responsive teaching across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Julian Parry, Director of English Programmes for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasised that language can serve as “a bridge to inclusion, identity, and opportunity for every learner.” He called for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to strengthen education systems globally.
Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes at British Council Nigeria, highlighted inclusion as a core principle of the Council’s educational partnerships.
Implications for Nigeria’s Education System
The new directive marks a major policy reversal from previous national education frameworks that encouraged the use of mother tongues in early education.
While the government argues that the shift will enhance learning outcomes and global competitiveness, critics may raise concerns about the potential erosion of indigenous languages and cultural heritage.
Education experts suggest that successful implementation will depend on teacher training, curriculum redesign, and resource availability to ensure that the transition to English-medium instruction does not widen existing educational inequalities.