Today, as Nigeria marks its 65th year of independence, it is more than just a day for flag-waving and celebration. It is a moment for sober reflection, especially on the state of education. Education, which is the bedrock of any nation’s growth, has remained Nigeria’s most paradoxical sector: vast in potential but underwhelming in delivery. At this milestone age, the question is not merely where we started, but where we stand today in comparison with our contemporaries around the world.
At independence in 1960, Nigeria inherited a fragile but promising education system from the colonial authorities. Missionary schools dotted the landscape, and only a few higher institutions such as the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, and University of Nigeria Nsukka existed. Literacy levels were low, but the hunger for learning was palpable. The optimism was that with independence, Nigeria would quickly expand access to education and use it as a tool to catapult the country into global relevance.
The 1970s oil boom gave Nigeria the resources to expand its educational infrastructure. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme of 1976 was one of the boldest educational policies in Africa at the time. Millions of children were enrolled, and new universities and polytechnics sprang up across the federation. Nigeria appeared determined to democratize education and make it a driver of development. But as resources dwindled in the 1980s, the cracks began to show.
Fast forward to today, Nigeria at 65 still battles the same fundamental issues: inadequate funding, dilapidated infrastructure, underpaid and unmotivated teachers, incessant strikes, and an ever-growing population of out-of-school children. The country holds the unenviable title of having the highest number of out-of-school children in the world over 20 million according to UNICEF. This is a damning reflection on how far behind we have fallen compared to peers.
Consider Malaysia, which, like Nigeria, gained independence in the late 1950s. At 65, Malaysia boasts near-universal literacy, world-class universities, and a thriving technical and vocational education system that feeds its industrial growth. Singapore, younger than Nigeria, transformed itself into a global education hub by prioritizing meritocracy, teacher training, and consistent policy reforms. Meanwhile, South Korea, also emerging from colonial rule and war around the same time as Nigeria, invested massively in human capital and now competes among the top in global education rankings.
Even African peers provide sobering lessons. Rwanda, scarred by genocide just three decades ago, has achieved significant strides in ICT-driven education and is fast becoming a hub for innovation in Africa. Ghana, with fewer resources than Nigeria, consistently records higher literacy and better-performing universities in international rankings. Clearly, Nigeria’s struggles cannot be explained away by history or colonial legacies; they stem from policy inconsistency, corruption, and lack of prioritization of education.
Funding remains the most glaring issue. Successive Nigerian governments have failed to meet the UNESCO-recommended benchmark of 15–20% of national budgets for education. Instead, allocations have hovered between 5–8% in recent years. Compare this to countries like Botswana and Kenya, which consistently dedicate over 20% of their budgets to education, resulting in better teacher training, infrastructure, and student outcomes. Without financial commitment, every other reform collapses.
Another challenge is the persistent instability in the tertiary education sector. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes have become a recurring ritual, disrupting academic calendars and diminishing the global credibility of Nigerian degrees. A 4-year degree often takes 6 or more years to complete. This instability has driven thousands of Nigerian youths to seek education abroad, draining foreign exchange and fueling brain drain.
At the basic education level, Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme has struggled to replicate the early success of UPE due to weak implementation. Many public schools lack classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and even basic furniture. Teachers are under-trained, under-paid, and overburdened. The result is poor learning outcomes: according to World Bank assessments, many Nigerian pupils cannot read or solve basic arithmetic after completing primary school.
Contrast this with countries like Vietnam, which, despite being poorer than Nigeria decades ago, prioritized teacher training and student assessment. Today, Vietnamese students outperform many of their counterparts in developed countries in global learning assessments like PISA. Nigeria, with far greater resources, still lags behind because education has never been treated as an emergency.
Technology, which should be a game-changer, has also been underutilized. While nations such as India have leveraged ICT to expand access to education for millions, Nigeria still grapples with digital divides. Rural schools remain without electricity, let alone internet access. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital gap was exposed, with millions of Nigerian children excluded from online learning opportunities. At 65, Nigeria should not be struggling with such fundamental issues.
Yet, it is not all gloom. Nigeria has produced world-class scholars, innovators, and professionals who excel globally. Nigerian graduates thrive in top universities and industries abroad, proving that when given the right environment, Nigerians can compete with the best. The problem lies not in the people but in the system that stifles excellence and fails to harness talent locally.
The way forward requires a multi-pronged approach. First, Nigeria must increase funding for education to meet international standards, but funding alone is not enough. Resources must be managed transparently and channeled into critical areas such as teacher training, infrastructure, research, and technology. A well-paid, well-trained teacher is the cornerstone of any successful education system.
Secondly, policy consistency is vital. Nigeria has witnessed too many abandoned reforms due to changes in government. Education must be removed from partisan politics and treated as a national priority. A 25-year national education roadmap, backed by law and insulated from political interference, would provide the stability needed for long-term development.
Thirdly, Nigeria must embrace vocational and technical education as equal to formal academic education. The obsession with university degrees has left a gap in skilled manpower, even as unemployment rises. Countries like Germany and South Korea thrive because they value technical skills as much as academic qualifications. Nigeria must reform curricula to meet the realities of a 21st-century economy.
Fourthly, the private sector must be given more space to partner with the government in funding and delivering quality education. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) should go beyond scholarships into infrastructure, teacher support, and research collaborations. Education cannot be left to the government alone.
Finally, there must be a cultural reawakening about the value of education. Parents, communities, and religious leaders must champion education as the key to liberation from poverty and ignorance. The fight against out-of-school children requires grassroots involvement and accountability at local government levels. Without social ownership of education, government policies will continue to fail.
At 65, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The journey so far has been marked by missed opportunities, unfulfilled promises, and avoidable stagnation. But it is never too late to change course. The examples of countries that have risen from worse circumstances to achieve educational glory should serve as both a challenge and an inspiration.
The truth remains: no nation can rise above the quality of its education. For Nigeria to realize its long-deferred dream of greatness, education must be placed at the heart of national development. Anything less will be a betrayal of the sacrifices of independence and a disservice to future generations.
God bless Nigeria at 65, and may the light of education finally illuminate the path forward.
