Nigeria’s Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa wins Most Outstanding Education Minister in West Africa as NELFUND and top academics sweep continental awards.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has won the Most Outstanding Minister of Education in West Africa Award from the Africans in Diaspora Organization, New York.
The decision was ratified by the organization’s Board of Incorporated Trustees and International Advisory Council during their ninth joint session at the World Trade Centre in New York City on August 17, 2026.
Alausa placed ahead of cabinet education ministers from 10 West African countries, following assessments of national higher education reforms, tertiary access strategies, and cross-border sector development.
Regional Ministerial Nominees in West Africa
The regional ministerial category featured top education policymakers from across the ECOWAS sub-region and neighboring states.
Nominees included Ghana’s Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, Cabo Verde’s Amadeu Cruz, Côte d’Ivoire’s N’Guessan Koffi, Liberia’s Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, and Sierra Leone’s Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie.
The candidate field also evaluated Togo’s Civil Engineer Mama Omorou, Benin Republic’s Dr. Sedami Medegan Fagla, Burkina Faso’s Adjima Thiombiano, Mali’s Bourema Kansaye, and Niger Republic’s Professor Mamadou Saidou.
Higher Education Leadership and Institutional Honors
The Africans in Diaspora Organization also recognized several other Nigerian institutional heads and academic administrators across continental categories.
Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, emerged as the winner of the Most Outstanding Vice Chancellor in Africa Award, competing against nominees from Burundi, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Wole Adeniyi received the Global African Banker of the Year for Education and Sustainable Development Award, selected over senior financial executives from the United Kingdom, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, and Senegal.
Western Delta University Visitor and former Delta State Governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori was named the sole nominee and winner of the Most Outstanding Visitor of an African University Award.
University of Lagos Pro-Chancellor Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, won the Most Outstanding Pro-Chancellor in Africa Award, leading a shortlist of governing council leaders drawn from institutions across Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.
NELFUND Wins Top Continental Agency Honor
The Nigeria Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) took the prize for Most Outstanding Government Agency of the Year in Africa for Education and Sustainable Development.
NELFUND finished ahead of six other public institutions, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, National Universities Commission, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Niger Delta Development Commission, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and the African Union Department of Education.
The awards are part of the maiden African Tertiary Education Awards program, with the formal presentation ceremony scheduled to take place in Lagos on October 22, 2026.
