# List of education ministers of Nigeria

The Minister of Education of Nigeria is the head of the Federal Ministry of Education and a member of the Federal Executive Council.
Political party: NCNC AG NPN NPP APC PDP Military
| Name (Born-Died) | Name (Born-Died) | Term of Office | Term of Office | Cabinet |
| First Republic ||||||
| 1 | Aja Nwachukwu (1918–2001) | 1958 | 1965 | Balewa (I) |
| 2 | Richard Akinjide (1930–2020) | 1965 | 1966 | Balewa (II) |
| Military Government (1966–1979) ||||||
| 3 | Wenike Opurum Briggs (1918–1987) | 1966 | 1971 | Gowon (Federal Executive Council) |
| 4 | Abudu Yesufu Eke (1923–) | October 1971 | 1975 | Gowon (Federal Executive Council) |
| 5 | Ahmadu Ali (b. 1936) | August 1975 | 1978 | Muhammed (Federal Executive Council) Obasanjo (Federal Executive Council) |
| 6 | Garrick Barilee Leton (1933–2013) | 1978 | 1979 | Obasanjo (Federal Executive Council) |
| Second Republic ||||||
| 7 | Ihechukwu Madubuike (b. 1944) | December 1979 | 1981 (resigned) | Shagari (I) |
| 8 | Sylvester Ugoh (b. 1931) | 1981 | October 1983 | Shagari (I) |
| 9 | Sunday Afolabi (1931–2004) | October 1983 | December 1983 | Shagari (II) |
| Military Government (1983–1993) ||||||
| 10 | Yarima Ibrahim Abdullahi (b. 1939) | January 1984 | 1985 | Buhari (Federal Executive Council) |
| 11 | Abdullahi Ibrahim (1939–2021) | 1985 | August 1985 | Buhari (Federal Executive Council) |
| 12 | Jibril Aminu (b. 1939) | 1985 | 1989 | Babangida (Federal Executive Council) |
| 13 | Babs Fafunwa (1923–2010) | 1990 | 1992 | Babangida (Federal Executive Council) |
| Third Republic (Interim National Government) ||||||
| 14 | Ben Nwabueze (1931–2023) | January 1993 (secretary) | 17 November 1993 | Shonekan (I) |
| Military Government (1993–1999) ||||||
| 15 | Iyorchia Ayu (b. 1952) | 26 November 1993 | 1995 | Abacha (Federal Executive Council) |
| 16 | M T Liman (–2012) | 1995 | 1997 | Abacha (Federal Executive Council) |
| 17 | Dauda Birma (1940–2021) | December 1997 | 1998 | Abubakar (Federal Executive Council) |
| 18 | Samuel Olaiya Oni (1941–2015) | August 1998 | June 1999 | Abubakar (Federal Executive Council) |
| Fourth Republic ||||||
| 19 | Tunde Adeniran (b. 1945) | June 1999 | 31 January 2001 | Obasanjo (I) |
| 20 | Babalola Borishade (1946–2017) | 8 February 2001 | May 2003 | Obasanjo (I) |
| 21 | Fabian Osuji (1942–2024) | July 2003 | 22 March 2005 (sacked) | Obasanjo (II) |
| 22 | Chinwe Obaji (b. 1951) | June 2005 | 21 June 2006 (sacked) | Obasanjo (II) |
| 23 | Oby Ezekwesili (b. 1963) | 21 June 2006 | April 2007 | Obasanjo (II) |
| 24 | Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu (1952–2015) | 26 July 2007 | 17 December 2008 | Yar'Adua (I) |
| 25 | Sam Egwu (b. 1954) | 17 December 2008 | 17 March 2010 | Jonathan (I) |
| 26 | Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i (b. 1958) | 6 April 2010 | 11 September 2013 (sacked) | Jonathan (II) |
| 27 | Nyesom Wike (b. 1967) | 11 September 2013 (supervising) | 9 July 2014 | Jonathan (II) |
| 28 | Ibrahim Shekarau (b. 1955) | 9 July 2014 | November 2015 | Jonathan (II) |
| 29 | Adamu Adamu (b. 1954) | 11 November 2015 | 29 May 2023 | Buhari (I • II) |
| 35 | Tahir Mamman (b. 1954) | 21 August 2023 | 23 October 2024 | Tinubu (I) |
| 36 | Tunji Alausa | 23 October 2024 | Incumbent | Tinubu |

## Ministers of State for Education

The following people acted as Ministers of State for Education:
* Bala Usman (1979 to 1982)
* Elizabeth Iyase (1979 to 1982)
* L. A. Bamigbaiye (1982 to 1983)
* A. I. Imogie (January 1993 to November 1993)
* Alhaji Dongodaji (January 1993 to January 1994)
* Wada Nas (January 1995 to February 1995)
* Iyabo Anisulowo (February 1997 to December 1997)
* A. N. Achunine (December 1997 to June 1998)
* Alhaji S. Saadu (August 1998 to May 1999)
* Lawam Batagarawa (June 1999 to 2001)
* Bello Usman (February 2001 to June 2003)
* Hajia Bintu Musa (July 2003 to June 2005)
* Halima Tayo Alao (June 2005 to 2006)
* Grace Ogwuche (February 2006 to June 2006)
* Sayadi Abba Ruma (June 2006 to April 2007)
* Adewunmi Abitoye (June 2006 to May 2007)
* Jerry Agada (June 2007 to December 2008)
* Aishatu Jibril Dukku (June 2007 – 2010)