Mirian Gom 
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa
ABUJA, Nigeria – Education Minister Tunji Alausa has been honoured as the 2026 ‘Man of the Year’ by the African Cultural Festival and presented with the Key to the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during the festival’s grand finale.
The recognition, presented under the theme ‘The Great Reunion: Culture, Education, and Collaboration’, was accompanied by a call from Alausa for stronger partnerships between Nigeria and its diaspora to support education reform, research, innovation and technology transfer.
In a statement on Friday, Alausa said Nigerians living abroad could contribute to the country’s education development through expertise, mentoring, research collaborations, specialised lectures, curriculum development and institutional partnerships without necessarily relocating to Nigeria.
He urged diaspora professionals, academics, researchers and institutions to participate in the BRIDGE — Bridging Research, Innovation, Development and Global Expertise — programme.
According to the minister, the initiative provides opportunities for Nigerians abroad to support students and young academics while facilitating access to emerging technologies and global best practices.
Alausa said Nigeria’s education transformation agenda covers basic and secondary education as well as technical, vocational and tertiary education.
He also highlighted initiatives including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, expanded technical and vocational training, curriculum modernisation, medical education, teacher development and investment in laboratories, simulation centres and other educational infrastructure.
The minister dedicated the award to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, education officials and stakeholders, as well as Nigerian children and young people.
The festival also featured engagement between Alausa and DuduPlugs, with the organisation outlining plans for partnerships around technology transfer, innovation and robotics.
DuduPlugs CEO Wole Adeniyi described the engagement as an opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy and educational collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
Alausa said the festival’s theme reflected the importance of reconnecting Nigeria and its diaspora through education, culture, innovation and collaboration.
He reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening skills and improving the quality and relevance of education for Nigerian young people.
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