Lawmakers advocate stronger public-private partnership to reform Nigeria’s education system

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have emphasised the need for Nigeria to deepen public-private partnerships (PPPs) to effectively address the numerous challenges facing the country’s education system.

Speaking at the conclusion of a public hearing on ten bills seeking to establish ten federal colleges of education across the country on Tuesday, Lanre Okunlola, the lawmaker representing Surulere Federal Constituency, underscored the importance of increased private sector involvement in the sector to drive meaningful change.

Okunlola acknowledged that while Nigeria requires more educational institutions to accommodate its growing population, persistent issues such as funding, quality, and standards continue to hinder progress. He believes that a strengthened PPP framework could provide sustainable solutions to these challenges.

The lawmaker, who sponsored the Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act, Cap. F8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to establish the Federal College of Education, Ijesha, Lagos State (HB.355), stressed the need for a collaborative approach.

“Education requires a lot of interventions, to change the narrative in Nigeria, the only way is to provide a leverage where there’s a public-private partnership, where private sectors can come in because it’s a huge, huge aspect of our development, and we will not shy away from it. So it’s a discourse that we must all sit down and negotiate,” he stated.

Okunlola further highlighted the importance of research-based educational institutions, describing them as vital for national growth and development.

In his remarks at the public hearing, Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, reaffirmed that education remains the bedrock of national development. He reiterated the House’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of their location or socio-economic background, has access to quality teacher education.

Abbas described the establishment of new Federal Colleges of Education as a critical step towards closing gaps in teacher training, strengthening the education sector, and building a skilled workforce capable of driving national progress.