Experts Call for Urgent Reforms in Nigeria’s Education System

Education stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the growing challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector, warning that the system is struggling to meet the demands of the country’s increasing population and economic realities.

The concerns were raised during the Geoffrey Nebo 20th anniversary and fifth memorial lecture held in Lagos. The event, themed “Rethinking Nigerian Educational System: The Need for Paradigm Shift,” brought together educators, school administrators, foundation leaders, and academics to discuss the future of education in Nigeria.

Chairman of the occasion, Okoroji Onoh, highlighted the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. According to him, approximately 18.3 million Nigerian children are currently out of school, with over 66 percent located in northern Nigeria.

He described the situation as evidence of a major gap between government educational policies and the realities experienced by communities across the country. Onoh stressed the need for greater investment in universities, polytechnics, unity schools, and other learning institutions to ensure Nigeria’s education sector remains competitive and inclusive.

Onoh, who also chairs The Brains Premier School, noted that Nigeria must reassess its priorities and adopt long-term strategies capable of driving sustainable national development through education.

Founder of the Nebo Foundation, Mary Lotachukwu Ohagwasi, explained that the memorial lecture was organised to encourage policymakers, parents, teachers, and students to reflect on the current state of education and embrace meaningful reforms.

She stated that the nation’s future depends heavily on the quality of its educational system and urged stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will make education more relevant, equitable, and responsive to global changes.

Ohagwasi further emphasized the importance of equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills, values, and knowledge needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. According to her, the country must move beyond outdated educational models and focus on strategies that prepare students for future opportunities.

Guest speaker, Adeniyi Adeyemi, said education should not only focus on certificates and academic success but also on shaping individuals who can positively contribute to society.

The professor from University of Lagos linked rising unemployment in Nigeria partly to the declining quality of education and poor teacher welfare. He argued that improving teachers’ working conditions and welfare packages would significantly improve classroom learning and student performance.

Adeyemi also encouraged Nigerian youths to develop a more positive mindset about themselves and the country, noting that national progress depends greatly on how citizens perceive and contribute to Nigeria’s development.

Founder of the Nigerian Teachers Community, Peter Ogudoro, blamed poor leadership and the failure of the education sector for Nigeria’s slow pace of development despite its abundant human and natural resources.

Ogudoro warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population could become a burden rather than an advantage if citizens are not empowered through quality and functional education.

He observed that while some developed countries are experiencing declining interest in university education, many Nigerian youths still strongly desire higher education opportunities. According to him, the challenge lies not in population growth itself, but in the inability of the system to provide quality education and economic empowerment.

He also criticised the country’s overdependence on charity-based interventions, urging leaders and philanthropists to invest more in sustainable empowerment programmes that create lasting economic opportunities for citizens.