The Federal Government has officially approved English as the main language of instruction across all Nigerian schools, putting an end to the policy that encouraged the use of indigenous languages in classrooms.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy change on Wednesday, November 12, during the Language in Education International Conference 2025, held in Abuja and organized by the British Council.

The two-day event, themed “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner,” brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers from Nigeria, Africa, South Asia, and the UK to discuss inclusive learning strategies.

Dr. Alausa explained that the decision was taken to improve students’ performance and ensure consistency in teaching across the country. He noted that while local languages remain culturally significant, English offers a common platform for communication and learning in Nigeria’s multilingual environment.

“English should be used as the medium of instruction from pre-primary to tertiary levels. Evidence shows that using mother tongues has contributed to poor comprehension and weak exam results,” Alausa said.

According to him, exam data from WAEC, NECO, and JAMB revealed that regions where indigenous languages dominated teaching recorded lower academic outcomes.

He emphasized that policy changes must rely on research and measurable outcomes rather than cultural emotions.

Dr. Alausa further added that English connects Nigeria to global opportunities, innovation, and technology while helping students compete internationally.

At the same event, Julian Parry, Director of English Programmes for Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, highlighted that language plays a key role in promoting inclusion and opportunity for learners.

“Language can act as a bridge to inclusion, identity, and opportunity for every learner,” Parry said.

Also speaking, Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes at the British Council Nigeria, noted that since 2015, the organisation has worked on developing inclusive teaching practices through its Pan-Ethnic Classrooms Programme.

The new directive marks a major shift in Nigeria’s education system, with the government emphasizing global competitiveness and standardization in learning, while still supporting the preservation of local languages outside the formal classroom setting.