September 3, 2025
Education is often called the great equalizer, the foundation upon which every successful nation is built. From the ashes of World War II, Japan rebuilt its society by investing in education. South Korea, once poorer than Nigeria in the 1960s, rose to global prominence by linking schools to industries. Singapore, with no oil or gold, turned its citizens into its greatest resource through merit-driven education.
The lesson is simple: no nation has ever developed without educating its people.
And yet, Nigeria—Africa’s most populous country and its largest economy—continues to treat education as an afterthought. The result is an economy trapped in underdevelopment, a generation of disillusioned youths, and a nation unable to harness its true potential.
The Paradox of Nigeria
Nigeria’s leaders never tire of declaring that “education is the bedrock of national development.” The phrase rolls easily off their tongues at conferences and campaign rallies. But rhetoric is cheap; the reality is disheartening.
Year after year, the federal budget for education hovers between 5–7%, far below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20%.
Public schools are collapsing: children sit on bare floors, teachers go unpaid, and laboratories gather dust.
In the North, more than 10 million children are out of school—the highest number in the world.
Universities are shut down regularly due to strikes, sending students into uncertainty while their peers abroad race ahead.
How can we build a successful nation on such a shaky foundatio
The Human Cost of Neglect
Education is not just about classrooms—it is about survival. The neglect of education in Nigeria has spilled into every corner of society.
Unemployment Crisis: Thousands of graduates are produced yearly, but many lack the skills to fit into the job market. That is why a graduate of engineering ends up as a commercial motorcyclist, or a political science graduate seeks asylum in Europe.
Insecurity: Boko Haram, whose name chillingly translates to “Western education is forbidden,” thrives on the ignorance of communities where illiteracy is rampant. Banditry and kidnappings find fertile ground where children never enter school.
Poverty: Families without education remain trapped in poverty, unable to break the cycle across generations.
Brain Drain: Talented Nigerians—doctors, lecturers, engineers—are fleeing in droves, enriching other nations because their homeland failed to value them.
These are not abstract consequences. They are lived realities in every Nigerian communit
Global Lessons, Nigerian Failures
When South Korea was at the same level of development as Nigeria in the 1960s, it chose to build industries, expand technical schools, and train teachers. Nigeria, by contrast, chose to squander oil wealth, chasing imports and neglecting local skills. Today, South Korea manufactures Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. Nigeria imports toothpicks and pencils.
Even within Africa, Rwanda and Ghana are showing what deliberate investment in education can achieve. Rwanda, scarred by genocide in 1994, is now a hub for technology and innovation because it prioritized education and ICT. Ghana consistently outperforms Nigeria in literacy rates and educational stability, attracting students from across West Africa.
Nigeria cannot continue to blame colonialism, poverty, or global inequality. The truth is simpler: we are not doing education right
What Must Be Done
Nigeria’s survival depends on urgent reforms. This is not optional—it is existential.
1. Invest Seriously: Allocate at least 15–20% of the national budget to education, not as lip service but as a commitment.
2. Revamp Curricula: Schools must prepare students for jobs, entrepreneurship, and the digital economy—not just for certificates.
3. Tackle Inequality: Northern Nigeria’s education crisis must be treated as a national emergency, not a regional issue.
4. Support Teachers: Pay them well, train them regularly, and treat them as nation-builders.
5. Leverage Technology: Digital learning, if implemented properly, can bridge gaps in infrastructure.
6. Accountability: End corruption in education funding—money must reach classrooms, not politicians’ pockets.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The rhetorical question remains: “Education is the most important step to building successful nations. We should be doing it right??” For Nigeria, the answer is both obvious and painful. Yes, we should be doing it right—but we are not.
Until we treat education as the lifeblood of our nation rather than an afterthought, Nigeria will remain stuck in cycles of poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment. The future of over 200 million people hangs in the balance, and history will not forgive us if we fail to act.
Education is not charity. It is not politics. It is the only road to national greatness. Nigeria must decide whether to walk that road—or abandon it, to its own peril.
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