Dr. (Mrs.) Olubanke Folake Olatunji-David serves as the pioneer Director of the Basic Education Department at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, where she coordinates and monitors basic education activities across Nigeria’s 36 states. Her role places her at the centre of policy implementation for inclusive education, quality improvement and collaboration across the national basic education sector.
Key facts
- She is the pioneer Director of the Basic Education Department at the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria.
- Her work includes coordinating and monitoring basic education activities across 36 states.
- She is responsible for policies and programmes aimed at inclusive education and improved education quality.
- She began her career in the core civil service on January 1, 1991 and has over 33 years of service.
- She holds a PhD in Adult Education (Management and Evaluation) from the University of Lagos.
What does her role mean for schools and learners in Nigeria?
Her position matters because it connects federal education policy with implementation at state level. The department she leads is tasked with monitoring basic education activities across the country, which affects how inclusive education policies and quality-improvement programmes are coordinated for schools and learners.
She also serves as the GPE Nigeria Focal Point, chairs the FLN Committee of the National Education Group, and coordinates the OOSC Education pillar of the Education Ministry’s NESRI Agenda. Those responsibilities place her in roles linked to federal collaboration on foundational learning and out-of-school children education.
- Coverage area: the 36 states and Nigeria’s national basic education sector.
- Policy focus: inclusive education, quality improvement and sector collaboration.
- Career background: core civil service since 1991.
- Professional standing: Education Officer cadre, Grade Level 17.
What qualifications does she bring to the job?
Dr. Olatunji-David Olubanke Folake holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Adult Education (Management and Evaluation) from the University of Lagos. Her professional development also includes certification in evidence-based program evaluation from the Harvard Kennedy School in Massachusetts, USA.
She is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. The record also identifies her as married and confirms that she has spent more than 33 years in Nigeria’s civil service.
Which parts of the education system fall under her coordination?
Her published profile says she coordinates and monitors the activities of the 36 states within the basic education sector, along with national policies and programmes. That means her remit is not limited to a single school, region or initiative; it extends across the federal system used to support basic education nationally.
She also works on collaboration and networking intended to support national and global education goals. In practical terms, that makes her one of the federal officials associated with how Nigeria organizes and tracks basic education delivery.
What is known about her federal education responsibilities?
Beyond departmental leadership, the profile says she serves as the GPE Nigeria Focal Point and chairs the FLN Committee of the National Education Group. She also coordinates the Out-of-School Children Education pillar of the Education Ministry’s NESRI Agenda.
Those assignments show that her work extends into multilateral education coordination, foundational learning and efforts involving children who are not in school. Her ministry role therefore combines administration, policy monitoring and national coordination.
