Alausa Named ACF 2026 ‘Man of the Year’, Receives Key to Harrisburg By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, CON, has been honoured as the 2026 “Man of the Year” by the African Cultural Festival (ACF) and presented with the Key to the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in recognition of his contributions to education reform and human capital development.
The honours were presented at the grand finale of the African Cultural Festival in Harrisburg, held under the theme, “The Great Reunion: Culture, Education, and Collaboration.”
The recognition provided an opportunity for Alausa to call for stronger partnerships between Nigeria and its diaspora community, particularly in education, research, innovation, technology transfer and human capital development.
Alausa dedicated the honour to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, education-sector officials and stakeholders, as well as Nigerian children and young people, saying they remain at the heart of the Federal Government’s education reform agenda.
The Minister said Nigeria’s education transformation programme covers the entire education value chain, from basic and secondary education to technical, vocational and tertiary education.
He identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, expanded technical and vocational education and training, curriculum modernisation, medical education, teacher development, laboratories, simulation centres, hostels and other critical infrastructure as key components of efforts to improve access, quality, relevance and employability.
Alausa also urged Nigerians living abroad to contribute their expertise, networks and resources to the country’s education transformation, particularly through the BRIDGE — Bridging Research, Innovation, Development and Global Expertise — programme.
He said diaspora professionals, academics, researchers and institutions could support Nigerian education through mentorship, specialised lectures, research collaborations, curriculum development, institutional partnerships and technology transfer.
According to him, Nigerians in the diaspora do not have to permanently relocate to contribute to national development, as physical and virtual engagement can provide meaningful avenues for supporting the country.
He described the concept as the essence of the festival’s “Great Reunion”, which seeks to reconnect Africa and its global community through education, culture, innovation and purposeful collaboration.
Speaking on the Minister’s engagement with the DuduPlugs team, Leila Steinberg expressed appreciation to Alausa for meeting with the team and providing an opportunity to present its vision.
She said DuduPlugs was focused on helping young Africans develop and benefit from their talents, culture, ideas and intellectual property, while strengthening connections between Nigerian talent and the global community.
The Chief Executive Officer of DuduPlugs, Wole Adeniyi, also thanked the Minister for participating in the African Cultural Festival, describing the engagement as an important platform for cultural diplomacy and educational collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
Adeniyi said DuduPlugs would build on the engagement by developing a legacy programme focused on technology transfer, modern innovation and robotics for Nigerians.
He said the initiative would involve collaboration with Blake Walker, Leila Steinberg, Femi Ojetunde, Dana Sims and Jody David Armour, among others, to explore sustainable partnerships within the education sector.
The Minister acknowledged the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and its Speaker, Hon. Joanna McClinton; the City of Harrisburg and Mayor Wanda Williams; DuduPlugs and the African Cultural Festival team led by Adeniyi; Goke Adeniyi; Steinberg; Walker; Ojetunde; Sims; Phyllis Bennett; Kelly Summerford; Hon. Carol Kazeem of Delaware and Hon. Segun Adeyina of Georgia for their contributions to the success of the festival.
The engagement, according to the Minister, demonstrated the growing potential for Nigerians and institutions abroad to become active partners in transforming Nigeria’s education sector.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to reforms aimed at expanding educational opportunities, strengthening skills, improving quality and relevance, and preparing Nigerian young people to compete and contribute in a rapidly changing global economy.
