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| Photo by Şeyhmus Kino |
"Education is the foundation upon which we build our future." Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Education is the foundation of any prosperous nation. It drives economic growth, fosters social development, and ensures future stability. Yet, in Nigeria, the education system is being systematically dismantled—not just by neglect but by deliberate actions of those in power who benefit from keeping the masses uneducated.
While lack of funding, insecurity, and poor infrastructure are significant problems, the more sinister reality is that some political leaders and elites intentionally sabotage the education system to maintain control over the populace.
The Current State of Education in Nigeria
Nigeria’s education sector is one of the worst in Africa, despite the country’s vast natural and human resources. According to UNICEF, 10.5 million Nigerian children aged 5–14 are out of school, making Nigeria the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.
The situation is worse in the northern states, where socio-cultural norms, poverty, and insurgency have crippled access to formal education, significantly hindering school attendance, especially for girls. Schools in rural and conflict-affected areas lack basic infrastructure, and many students learn under trees or in dilapidated classrooms with no chairs, textbooks, or teachers.
The Key Issues Facing Nigeria’s Education System
Chronic Underfunding: The Nigerian government has consistently failed to meet UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating at least 26% of the national budget to education. In some years, less than 7% of the budget goes to education, far below what is required to improve the sector.
Frequent Teachers’ Strikes: University and secondary school teachers go on strike almost every year due to unpaid salaries, poor working conditions, and unfulfilled government promises.
Dilapidated Infrastructure: Many schools lack classrooms, desks, libraries, and laboratories. In some cases, students share classrooms with livestock, and teachers lack proper offices or resources.
Teacher Shortage and Poor Training: has an alarming shortage of qualified teachers, with over 270,000 needed to meet demand, and many existing teachers are underpaid and untrained.
Insecurity and Insurgency: Boko Haram, bandits, and kidnappers frequently target schools, leading to mass kidnappings and attacks that discourage school attendance.
The Deliberate Killing of Education by State Actors
While economic and security challenges contribute to Nigeria’s education crisis, the more disturbing reality is that certain state actors are actively working to weaken the sector.
Why Would the Government Sabotage Education?
To Maintain Political Control
A well-educated population is harder to manipulate. Education empowers people to demand accountability, fight against oppression, and challenge corruption. By keeping the masses uneducated, politicians reduce resistance and maintain a docile population that can be easily controlled.
The Nigerian proverb says, "A blind man does not know the road." A deliberately uneducated society cannot challenge rigged elections, oppressive laws, or corrupt leadership.
To Keep the Elite in Power
In many states, government officials send their children abroad or to expensive private schools while neglecting public education.
The ruling class benefits from keeping the majority poor and uneducated, ensuring that only the privileged few have access to quality education and leadership positions.
Religious and Cultural Manipulation
Some political and religious leaders discourage Western education, especially in the north, where Almajiri (street begging by children) is promoted instead of formal schooling.
Groups like Boko Haram thrive on the belief that "Western education is forbidden," but some elites exploit this ideology for their gain, ensuring northern youths remain uneducated and easily manipulated.
Corruption and Mismanagement
The billions allocated for education each year often disappear into private pockets.
Schools are left in ruins, while politicians and bureaucrats embezzle funds for school renovations, teacher salaries, and student materials.
Some state governors divert education funds to personal projects that have nothing to do with learning.
Weaponizing Poverty
Keeping education weak ensures that a large portion of the population remains in poverty, making them more dependent on political handouts during elections.
A population focused on daily survival rather than education is less likely to demand reforms or challenge the status quo.
The Devastating Effects of a Failing Education System
A Nation of Illiterates
Nigeria’s literacy rate is dangerously low. Nigeria's literacy rate reached 69% in 2022, marking a gradual but modest rise of about 17% over the last 15 years. However, only 26% of Nigerian children and adolescents aged 7–14 possess basic reading and math skills, meaning they cannot read or write at a level necessary for daily tasks.
Rise in Crime and Insurgency
When young people have no education or job prospects, they become easy targets for criminal organizations. The rise of Boko Haram, banditry, and kidnappings is partly due to the lack of education and economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
Economic Decline
Without a skilled workforce, Nigeria cannot compete in the global economy. Poor education results in fewer doctors, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs, limiting the country’s development.
Increase in Unemployment
An uneducated workforce means fewer job opportunities. Even university graduates struggle because many Nigerian universities do not equip students with practical skills for the modern economy.
Gender Inequality
The education crisis disproportionately affects girls, especially in the northern states, where early marriage and cultural restrictions prevent them from attending school.
Pathways to Quality Education for All
Despite these challenges, solutions exist to restore and strengthen Nigeria’s education sector.
Increase Education Funding: The government must allocate at least 20% of the national budget to education and ensure transparency in fund allocation.
Hold Leaders Accountable: Nigerians must demand accountability and transparency in education spending.
Strengthen Teacher Training and Welfare: Increase teachers’ salaries and training programs to improve teaching quality.
Modernize School Infrastructure: Invest in modern classrooms, libraries, and technology-based learning.
Tackle Corruption in Education: Strict anti-corruption measures must be implemented to prevent the embezzlement of education funds.
Engage Communities in Education: Encourage parental and community involvement in school management.
Quality Education: A Call to Action for Nigeria
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." However, Nigeria's education sector remains in crisis, with systemic neglect, underfunding, and insecurity keeping millions out of school.
Achieving SDG 4 requires urgent intervention to address these challenges. Increased funding, improved policies, safe learning environments, and community-driven initiatives are essential to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.
Initiatives like the Shades of Us Scholarships for Excellence contribute to this goal by providing financial support to brilliant but underserved students and breaking down barriers to education. By investing in young minds today, we can secure a future where education is truly a right, not a privilege.
The journey to SDG 4 is long, but with collective action, Nigeria can move closer to a future where education empowers every citizen.
However, real change must come from within. If Nigerians do not fight for their education system, those in power will continue to dismantle it for their gain.
The Nigerian education system is not just failing due to neglect—it is being deliberately destroyed by state actors who profit from an uneducated population. Education is power, and those in power fear an educated society.
It is time for Nigerians to demand change, hold leaders accountable, and push for a revolution in the education sector. If education is truly the key to success, then we must ensure that every Nigerian child has access to the key that will unlock their future.
"Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth." Wole Soyinka.
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