9 key areas and expectations of Nigeria’s educational system up to 2027

Education has long been recognised as the cornerstone of national development, yet Nigeria’s educational system faces immense challenges that have hindered its ability to unlock the full potential of its citizens. With over 20 million children out of school, a widening skills gap, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient funding, the urgency for reform has never been greater.

This blueprint responds to existing challenges and helps Nigerians access quality education, market-relevant skills, and lifelong learning opportunities. By addressing key areas such as equitable access, quality learning outcomes, skills development, and system strengthening, it serves as a comprehensive guide to building a resilient education system that meets the demands of the 21st century.

With a focus on fostering entrepreneurship, leveraging technology, and aligning policies with global best practices, the roadmap aims to bridge the gaps in education delivery, empowering individuals and communities to drive Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. This is more than a strategy—it is a call to action for all stakeholders to reimagine the possibilities of education in Nigeria and commit to a future where knowledge, innovation, and opportunity are accessible to all.

According to education for renewed hope by the Federal Ministry of education, 9 areas and expectations of Nigeria’s educational system: The road map 2024–2027

1. Equitable Access
The Nigerian educational system faces the critical challenge of ensuring equitable access to quality education for all. By 2027, the roadmap aims to address this issue by enhancing both formal and non-formal education systems to accommodate over 90% of out-of-school and school-aged children, 70% of eligible youths for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and tertiary education, and 75% of non-literate adults for lifelong learning opportunities. This plan targets the existing shortfalls, such as the 35.7% gap in basic and secondary education and the 33.3% deficit in technical education, which place Nigeria among the worst globally for educational access. The ultimate goal is to create a future where all Nigerians, regardless of age or gender, can seamlessly transition through basic to tertiary education levels. Thematic focuses include basic and secondary education, TVET, adult literacy, entrepreneurship education, and the inclusion of out-of-school children.

2. Quality Education and Learning Outcomes
Improving the quality of education remains a top priority, with a focus on strengthening the human capacity for learner-centred, interactive teaching and ensuring robust quality assurance mechanisms. This roadmap prioritises recruiting and training qualified educators capable of applying modern, innovative pedagogies. Additionally, fostering conducive learning environments is essential for equipping learners with the knowledge, competencies, and skills to achieve lifelong success. Enhanced teacher education, curriculum reforms, and library services are key thematic areas designed to drive this transformation, ensuring education becomes both relevant and market-driven.

3. Skills and Entrepreneurship Education
Given its status as Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria faces a paradox: while boasting massive infrastructural projects, the country heavily relies on imported skilled labour due to its domestic skills gap. The roadmap emphasises developing technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education as crucial solutions to this issue. TVET programs will focus on translating learners’ passions into productive enterprises, while entrepreneurship education will instil creativity, innovation, and business acumen. This strategy not only aims to empower individuals for self-employment but also seeks to transform labour markets through problem-solving, technological innovation, and sustainable practices. By nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset, Nigeria’s education system can align with its economic aspirations.

4. Research and Innovation Education
Nigeria’s tertiary institutions are positioned as the backbone of national development, much like Silicon Valley’s pivotal role in driving global innovation. By integrating entrepreneurship education into research, Nigerian universities can foster start-ups and small businesses capable of solving local challenges and scaling globally. This roadmap promotes partnerships between universities, government, and private sectors to establish research hubs and innovation centres. Key thematic areas include strengthening tertiary education, embedding entrepreneurship in TVET, and aligning curricula with modern economic demands to make research outcomes impactful and commercially viable.

5. Infrastructure Planning
The state of infrastructure in Nigerian schools poses a significant barrier to achieving quality education. Many public schools lack essential facilities, including functional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and proper sanitary systems. This roadmap envisions a systematic approach to bridging the infrastructure gap through targeted funding and public-private partnerships. Over the next five years, efforts will be made to upgrade existing facilities, construct new ones, and provide resources that support effective teaching and learning. Priorities include ensuring basic and secondary education institutions, TVET centres, and tertiary institutions are equipped to foster a conducive learning environment.

6. Education Financing and Resourcing
Historically, inadequate funding has hindered Nigeria’s educational sector. Despite UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating 26% of the national budget to education, Nigeria consistently falls short, with funds often poorly implemented. The roadmap proposes increasing financial investments in education through innovative measures such as utilising revenue from examination bodies and providing special education infrastructure funds. Additionally, it advocates for full financial autonomy for tertiary institutions and expanded UBEC counterpart funding. These reforms aim to ensure adequate resources are available to support the development of all educational subsectors.

7. Systems Strengthening
To enhance governance and accountability, this roadmap underscores the need for evidence-based decision-making in education. Strengthening systems involves using reliable data to inform policy and planning, fostering transparency, and driving innovation in educational delivery. Key thematic areas include improving quality assurance mechanisms, leveraging ICT for education management, and ensuring data-driven approaches to address inefficiencies. By building stronger systems, Nigeria can create a more transparent and effective educational framework that meets the needs of its citizens.

8. Policy Recommendations
Education in Nigeria operates under a concurrent legislative system, with federal, state, and local governments sharing responsibilities. The roadmap advocates for revising and implementing policies that align with current challenges and opportunities in education. Recommendations include increasing UBEC funding from 2% to 3%, integrating the Universal Basic Education scheme with the Almajiri and Tsangaya systems, and dedicating resources to curriculum reviews. These policy changes aim to create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable educational system, ensuring every Nigerian has the opportunity to thrive.

9. Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Education
ICT plays a transformative role in modern education, and Nigeria’s roadmap recognises its importance in bridging learning gaps. The focus is on integrating technology at all levels of education to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and learning outcomes. Digital tools and e-learning platforms will be deployed to reach underserved communities, while ICT training will equip students and teachers with 21st-century skills. This approach aims to position Nigeria’s educational system as a hub of innovation and technological advancement.