ABUJA — The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has urged Nigerian students to adopt healthy lifestyles, maintain proper hygiene and pay attention to good nutrition and immunisation as part of efforts to improve learning and long-term well-being. The minister made the call during the maiden Kids Dialogue Series organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Centre for Well-being and Integrated Nutritious Solutions. The programme was held at Government Science Secondary School in Pyakasa, Abuja, and brought students from different schools together for discussions on health, learning and well-being. Education and health are closely connected. Children who experience preventable illnesses may miss school and lose valuable learning time. Poor nutrition can also affect concentration, energy and development. Schools therefore have an important role in promoting healthy habits alongside academic instruction. Hygiene education can help students understand how everyday practices such as handwashing, safe water use and cleanliness can reduce the spread of disease. Schools need appropriate facilities to support those lessons. Access to clean water, functional toilets and handwashing stations is particularly important. Health education can also encourage students to make informed decisions as they grow older. Nutrition is another important component. Children need adequate and balanced diets to support physical development and learning. Schools and families can work together to promote healthy food choices while recognising the economic realities faced by households. Immunisation can protect children against serious infectious diseases. Public-health programmes therefore depend partly on schools and communities helping families understand the benefits of vaccination. Accurate information is important because misinformation can discourage parents from seeking appropriate healthcare for their children. The Kids Dialogue Series also provided an opportunity for students to participate directly in discussions about their well-being. Giving young people a voice can help education authorities understand the issues they experience in schools and communities. Student participation can also encourage leadership and responsibility. Teachers play an important role in reinforcing health messages. Educators can identify students who may need support and refer concerns to appropriate health professionals. School health programmes can include counselling, health screenings and awareness campaigns. Collaboration between education and health agencies can make such programmes more effective. The initiative highlights the need to view education in broader terms. Academic achievement is important, but students also need the physical and emotional well-being required to participate fully in learning. Safe school environments, adequate nutrition and access to basic healthcare can contribute to attendance and performance. Government investment in school health should therefore complement investment in classrooms and teachers. Schools can also become important centres for community health information because students often take lessons home to their families. The minister's message reinforces the connection between healthy children and effective learning. Encouraging healthy habits early can help students develop behaviours that remain useful throughout adulthood. Education authorities will need continued cooperation from schools, health agencies, parents and communities to turn those messages into everyday practice.