The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially announced the cancellation of the National Language Policy (NLP), which previously mandated the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in early childhood and primary education.
The now-defunct policy, approved in 2022, aimed to promote Nigeria’s rich linguistic heritage by requiring that children from Early Child Care Education to Primary Six be taught in their mother tongue or the language of their immediate community.
However, speaking at the 2025 Language in Education International Conference in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa declared that English will now serve as the sole medium of instruction across all levels of education.
Dr. Alausa cited poor academic performance among Nigerian students as a key reason for the reversal. According to the Minister: “Our children have been performing abysmally in public examinations due to the inconsistency and limitations of instruction in indigenous languages. English, being the global language of science, technology, and commerce, must be prioritized to prepare our youth for international competitiveness.”
Educational institutions are expected to begin transitioning immediately, with updated curriculum guidelines to be issued by the Federal Ministry of Education.
While the Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to multilingualism and cultural preservation, the emphasis will now shift toward teaching indigenous languages as subjects rather than using them as instructional mediums.