1. PROTOCOLS2. It gives me a great pleasure to be part of this epoch-making event, THE 3RD NATIONAL EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE which is poised to reinforce discuss, “Private Initiatives and the Nigerian Education Sector: Gains, Shortfalls, and Ways Forward.
This discussion will center around the state of the education sector in Nigeria, with recommendations on the way forward and the attainment of global standards.
We appreciate Mrs Modupe Onabanjo, the CEO Education Sector Television International who spends her precious time reviewing Education opportunities, and provide answers bordering on the current state of the education sector, the past, and way forward to ensure our education system is capable of producing a workforce for the global economy.
Thank you very much Madam for inviting me and other speakers to add value to this important conference. I join others to welcome Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, co-founder, OGE Professional Services Limited, and Dr. Femi Mosaku Johnson, Founding Registrar/CEO, Association of Corporate Governance Professionals of Nigeria who will speak on “Impacts of Efficient Education Budgeting in National Development,” and “Effective Education Sector: Corruption and its Consequences” respectively.
Again, I congratulate the organizers of this commendable initiative and looks forward to a conscientious implementation of all its recommendations.3 a. What is the Private Sector?
In order to talk about the private sector involvement in the Education Sector in Nigeria, we will need to discuss the Private Sector. CBN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL REVIEW 2023 and several authors have defined the private sector as it plays a vital role in the economy by creating jobs, providing goods and services, and stimulating economic growth. It is an important source of tax revenue for governments. Businesses pay taxes to help to fund public services and enable governments to invest in infrastructure and other important projects.
The private sector is the part of a country’s economic system that is run by individuals and companies, rather than a government entity. Most private sector organizations are run with the intention of making profit.
The private sector is a key driver of innovation. Private companies invest in research and development, which leads to new products and services that boost the economy and improve people’s lives.
Recently Dr Chris Ogbechie, the Dean of the Lagos Business School, emphasized the importance of partnerships between the private sector and the government to improve education outcomes in Nigeria.
He called for a reevaluation of the country’s education funding strategy, stressing that investment in education is crucial for Nigeria’s development. In same context I express gratitude to individuals and organizations in the private sector who have supported the schools / higher institutions in the past years till date.
Many authors have reported and highlighted the significant impact that partnerships have had on the quality of education and the professional development of students in Nigeria. Education is expensive, and government funding alone is insufficient to meet the needs of the education sector.
Thus the role of philanthropy and partnerships in bridging this gap, through scholarships, infrastructure development, and student engagement cannot be over emphasized.
b. Fuel price hike: More Nigerians to slip into poverty
The recent (September 2024) increase in the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), from N586 to N897 will further weaken the economy by driving inflation up, causing business shutdowns, and pushing more citizens into poverty, economic experts have warned.
In separate reactions to the new pump prices of petrol, stakeholders, including the Organised Private Sector, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and small business owners, among others outlined the many negative implications of the recent price increase.
The interest groups advised the government to quickly return fuel subsidy, or provide alternative energy sources and transportation options to avoid the risk of completely driving the economy aground even as the new policy begins to take a painful toll on Nigerians.
The recent increase of fuel price by the (NNPC) Limited will cause a surge in inflation rate. The sector also viewed that expected minimum wage increase which is yet to be implemented will definitely be eroded by the higher inflation rate that will be induced by the increase in fuel price.
Director General of the Chamber, Dr. Chinyere Almona reeled out the huge negative impact of the hike on businesses to include but not limited to poor supply and logistics, power generation, transportation and factory operations. The cost of doing business will skyrocket, prices of goods will rise, and some firms may shut down due to low demand in the face of weakening consumer purchasing power. Of course, this will be followed by job losses.
4. a. Public-Private Partnership (PPPs)
In the context of Nigeria, PPPs have become an essential strategy for addressing challenges related to the provision of critical services in several sectors of the Nigerian economy. Additionally, such partnerships encourage innovation, share risks, and ensure accountability, contributing to sustainable development.
Most PPPS falls within the Legal Framework – Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment etc.) Act, 2005 (“ICRC Act” or “the Act”), amongst other sector related laws or PPP policies are guided. Public-Private Partnership (PPPs) are long term contractual arrangements between the public sector (at both national and subnational levels) and private entities. These partnerships have become a cornerstone for several development opportunities including infrastructure development, allowing the private sector to invest in, manage, and deliver services traditionally handled by the public sector. These services may involve the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of infrastructure and many more,
Globally, funding of education is a joint responsibility between the public and private sector and Nigeria cannot be an exception.
In making quality education inclusive, accessible and adaptable to all, there is a need for public/private engagement and partnership in funding and delivery of education at all levels (i.e. Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and specifically Technical Vocational Education and Training).
b. Private partners in a PPP arrangement enjoy numerous advantages, such as Revenue Opportunities, Access to Capital, Risk Mitigation, Long-term Revenue Stability, Expertise and Innovation, Asset Ownership and Management, Market Expansion and Reputation Building while the Key benefits for public authorities include, Efficient Delivery of Services, Risk Transfer, Alternative Funding Sources, Enhanced Economic Growth, PPPs stimulate economic activity and growth.
c. Challenges and Pitfalls of PPPs include the complexity of PPP contracts, which require meticulous drafting to ensure clear definitions of roles, responsibilities, and risks identification, allocation, and mitigation tools. Transparency and public accountability also pose significant concerns, as PPPs can sometimes obscure the lines of public oversight, making it crucial for these agreements to include mechanisms for public scrutiny and reporting.
d. The key to unlocking their full potential lies in addressing these challenges head-on. This includes improving the clarity and fairness of PPP contracts, ensuring a balanced risk distribution that does not overburden the public sector, and enhancing transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle. By doing so, PPPs can truly leverage private sector resources and expertise for the public good, driving meaningful improvements in infrastructure development, service delivery, and ultimately, economic growth.
6. a. National Policy on Education (2013)
Education is the process of transforming the raw human resources to the expected quality and standard, to live and contribute effectively to the development of the society.
The philosophy of National Policy on Education (2013) which is called education for self-reliance’s emphasis that;
education is an instrument for national development and social change;
education is vital for the promotion of a progressive and united Nigeria;
education maximizes the creative potentials and skills of the individual for self-fulfillment and general development of the society;
education is compulsory and a right of every Nigerian irrespective of gender, social status, religion, color, ethnic background and any peculiar individual challenges; and
education is to be qualitative, comprehensive, functional and relevant to the needs of the society.
The five main national goals of Nigeria, which have been endorsed as the necessary foundation for the National Policy on education, are the building of:
a free and, democratic society;
a just egalitarian society;
a united, strong and self-reliant nations;
a great and dynamic economy;
a land full of bright opportunities for all citizens.
b. Data on Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria education standards
The universal access to equitable quality education is Sustainable Development Goal 4. UNESCO’s Institute of Statistics provides a sobering reality that the world is no-where close to achieving this SDG by 2030.
Education in Africa Facts and Figures.
58% of Upper secondary level age in Sub Sahara Africa do not attend school
80% of the children in Sub Saharan Africa are still not being taught in a language they speak at home.
15 million primary school and secondary school teachers need to be recruited.
Dance for Education Campaign – Africa Union celebrated 2024 as year of Education
244- 258 million children and youth between the ages of 6 and 18 worldwide were out of school in 2021 of which 118.5 million are girls and 125.5 million were boys/ were out of school in 2021 while 484 million children in school are not receiving quality education.
There is an annual financing gap of $39 billion for attaining universal pre-primary, primary, and secondary education in low and lower middle-income countries.
In most low-income countries, less than 5 percent of people have completed tertiary education, and in five countries, the number of poor youth attending university is “not statistically different from zero.”
According to UIS data Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion of any region, with over one-fifth of children between the ages of 6 and 11 being out of school, followed by one-third of youth between the ages of about 12 and 14, and nearly 60 percent of youth between the ages of about 15 and 17 not attending school,
Africa has the world’s lowest secondary school enrollment rates. Just 28 % of youth are enrolled in secondary school, leaving over 90 million teenagers struggling for employment in low-paid, informal sector jobs.
UNICEF Report 2024 shows that Nigeria’s education system faces an alarming crisis, with 10.2 million children of primary school age, and another 8.1 million of junior secondary school age out of school, and 74% of children aged 7–14 lacking basic reading and math skills.
One in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria.
Even though basic education in the nation is both free and required by the law, 10.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are not enrolled in school.
Out of School Children across States in Nigeria ( Ages 6-15 ages) –
Table 1 FULL LIST: Out-of-school children across states in Nigeria (Ages 6–15)1. Kebbi: 67.6%2. Sokoto: 66.4%3. Yobe: 62.9%4. Zamfara: 61.3%5. Bauchi: 55.7%6. Borno: 54.2%7. Jigawa: 51.1%8. Gombe: 48%9. Katsina: 45.9%10. Niger: 42.8%11. Kano: 39.2%12. Taraba: 28.8%13. Nasarawa: 25.4%14. Plateau: 23.2%15. Kwara: 22%16. Kaduna: 21.9%17. Adamawa: 21.7%18. Oyo: 20.9%19. Ogun: 20.5%20. Benue: 18.4%21. Ebonyi: 16.7%22. Ondo: 13.8%23. Osun: 12.8%24. FCT: 12.8%25. Edo: 11.3%26. Akwa Ibom: 10.6%27. Kogi: 10.2%28. Delta: 9.3%29. Rivers: 7.7%30. Cross River: 7.6%31. Enugu: 7.5%32. Bayelsa: 7.4%33. Lagos: 6.4%34. Abia: 5.6%35. Ekiti: 5.1%36. Imo: 5.1%37. Anambra: 2.9%
Naira-land Forum September 2024
Only 35.6 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years receive early childhood education, while only 61 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11 routinely attend primary school.
The situation is considerably worse in the northern part of Nigeria, where the net attendance percentage is only 53 percent. These educational realities have grossly affected the labour market as there is an increasing out-cry for skilled workers who can’t match the demands of a competitive market.
Countries like Nigeria continue to underinvest in education due to a lack of understanding around the rate of returns, reflecting an expense based perspective instead of an investment-based perspective and poor political will.
Youth are particularly affected by unemployment and inactivity, and the transition from education and training to work is hampered by a lack of demand-driven and practice-oriented training, sluggish economies, and changing labour markets.
In Nigeria, about 53.4 percent of youth were unemployed in 2022 according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Skills are moving targets in the rapidly changing world of work, making it increasingly difficult to match supply and demand.
Closing the skills deficit gaps amongst Nigerian youth requires support from the private sector through innovative partnership and funding approaches.
Nigeria, where improvements in the quality of education can result in significant human capital dividends in the form of productivity gains and market-size growth. This lack of relevant skills is associated with high opportunity costs of “lost talents,” which not only trap workers in low-wage and unstable jobs, but also limit corporate organisations from achieving broader economic prospects from improved innovation, governance, and business environments.
7. Opportunities for Education Investment in Nigeria
The private sector holds immense potential to significantly contribute to Nigeria’s education system, spanning from basic to tertiary education.
United States of America, companies are already the seventh largest donor to education in developing countries, following the World Bank, the International Development Association, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.
In Nigeria, thirty of the country’s major corporations collectively contributed N32.4 billion to fund CACOVID, which was initiated by the private sector to support the Nigerian government in battling COVID-19.
This level of corporate philanthropy was a notable increase from the N12.1 billion donated by the private sector in Nigeria in 2019. While the reasons, motivations, forms, and strategies for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy contributions vary widely. Companies have realized that working toward social objectives is beneficial to their economic objectives. Improving social and economic conditions creates better environments for a company’s employees and its business operations.
8. a. Role of Private Sector in Nigerian Education
The role of the private sector in contributing to Nigeria’s education, is critical and pivotal in shaping sustainable education strategies. The private sector encompasses non-governmental organizations and for-profit entities. In Nigeria, its involvement in education spans various initiatives, infusing resources and expertise, funding specialized training programs to establishing schools and vocational schools and collaborating with educational institutions. They have tailored vocational training to meet industry demands, ensuring graduates are equipped with practical skills. These efforts are crucial in bridging the skills gap and reducing unemployment rates by creating a workforce aligned with market needs.
b. Budget Allocation in Education 2020 – 2024
Suleiman 2024 reported in Premium Times; a review of the education budget revealed that the President Tinubu budgeted N1.54 trillion for the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies, including N50 billion for the Students Loan scheme scheduled to take off in January 2024. This amount is higher than the N1.08 trillion the education ministry received in the 2023 budget.
However in the President Bola Tinubu presenting 2024 budget review of the budget indicates that the education sector got N1.54 trillion, representing 6.39 per cent of the total budget.
This is far below the 15 per cent recommendation by UNESCO. Although it failed to meet UNESCO’s recommendation, the education sector has one of the highest allocations alongside defense and security (11.8 per cent) and Health (5.03 per cent).
According to the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), a country’s budget should allocate at least 20% to the education sector. UNESCO also admits that 4-6% of the country’s GDP has to be allocated to education to achieve the sustainable development goal of quality education.
c. Global Best Practices on Budget Allocation on Education
Adequate education budgets promote economic growth, reduce inequality, and improve a country’s overall quality of life. On a global scale, governments have implemented numerous strategies and initiatives to guarantee that the education system is effectively managed and adequately funded. Different countries have different practices on budget allocation for education.
Finland’s investment in education is its source of substantial development. Finland allocates approximately 7% of its GDP to education, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage from early childhood to higher education. The investment also ensures that all schools, irrespective of location, have access to the essential funding, complementing the equitable distribution of resources.
Canada is significantly decentralized. Funding is predominantly managed by provincial and local governments, enabling the development of strategies tailored to the specific requirements of various regions. The federal government provides block grants to these provinces, which are augmented by local taxes.
Norway is a global leader in primary education. Its government distributes substantial advantages to both individuals and society. Norway allocates the majority of its resources to early childhood education and care (ECEC). Fostering children’s learning and development establishes a solid foundation for their future education.
South Africa allocate about 6% of their GDP to education and 20% of their total government expenditures to education.
Effective educational budget allocation necessitates dedication to equity and quality, meticulous planning, and innovative approaches. Nevertheless, countries can establish robust and responsive education systems that cater to the needs of all learners by prioritizing education in national budgets, implementing decentralized and performance-based funding models, prioritizing equity, leveraging public-private partnerships, ensuring transparency, and investing in early childhood education.
f. JAMB and Admissions into Nigerian Universities
In April 2024, the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board announced that only 27% of the students who took its Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) in 2024 had 200 out of 400 marks. Since 2014, JAMB has conducted its exams using computer-based and paper-pencil tests. In 2024, 1,989,668 registered for Jamb 2024, out of which 80,810 were absent and 1, 904,189 sat for Jamb. The results showed that 1.4 million scored below 200. The National Universities Commission – NUC reported in 2024 that there were over 270 universities in Nigeria as at 2024. Breakdown is as follows;149 – Private 63 -State Owned, 62 – Federal Universities. As the number of universities in Nigeria increases, it is ironical that despite the number of admission seekers not being catered for by the available universities in the country, many ivory towers especially the private ones, could not fill up admission quota allocated to them by NUC. Salau Premium Times 2024/ Prof Olakekan Arikewuyo Inaugural lecture OOU 2024.
Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2019 only about 568,640 where absorbed into Nigeria Universities. That continues to leave a wide gap for students looking for admission.
10. a Overview of Private Schools in Nigeria
In 2018/2019, there were 117 thousand elementary schools in Nigeria with 62 thousand owned by public ownership 62 thousand – public and 55 thousand were private. 91% of primary school pupils and 77% of secondary school students are enrolled in private institutions. The number of private schools increased 5-fold between 2002 and 2020 compared to public schools which tripled. Enrollment in private schools grew 10 times faster than in public schools over the past two decades. Private schools significantly outnumber public schools across all 36 states and the FCT. This rapid expansion of private education has been driven by:
Increasing population and demand for education. Nigeria has the largest youth population in Africa.
Insufficient public education infrastructure. Public schools lack capacity to meet demand.
Perceived better quality of private schools by parents.
Policy changes including universal basic education (UBE) which increased access.
Profitability attracts investors despite challenges.
b. Challenges Facing Private Schools in Nigeria
Despite the proliferation of private schools in Nigeria, the sector faces some significant challenges which include:
Poor Infrastructure and Learning Environment.
Many private schools operate in unsuitable makeshift facilities like uncompleted buildings, shops, and centers.
Lack of amenities like furniture, libraries, playgrounds, sanitation facilities, and electricity.
Overcrowded classrooms with high teacher-to-student ratios (1:100+).
This poor infrastructure negatively impacts teaching and learning.
Underqualified Teachers-Teachers often do not have the required qualifications and training.Poor teacher quality affects learning outcomes.
Weak Regulation and Standardization
Multiple regulatory bodies with overlapping functions like SMOE, NERDC, NCCE.
Conflicting regulations on issues like curriculum, quality assurance, and school establishment.
High fees make private schools unaffordable for the poor.
Limited access for girls, children with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
Schools concentrated in urban areas and southern regions. Rural and northern regions are underserved.
High taxes, fees, and levies charged by govt. agencies.
c. Opportunities and Developments in the Education Sector
Despite the challenges, there are also important opportunities in the private education sector in Nigeria:
Schools are leveraging technology for administration, teaching, learning, and security.
Edtech solutions enable personalized learning, better monitoring, and improved outcomes.
Online platforms for payments, communication with parents, and remote learning.
Significant interest from education investors and commercial banks to fund expansion.
e. Vocational and Technical Training.
Strong demand for vocational education and skills training.
Aligning curriculum with industry needs and innovations like STEM.
Improving Standards and Best Practices.
This requires a comprehensive reform that focuses on improving the quality of training, updating the curriculum to reflect current industry trends, providing modern equipment and facilities, and hiring qualified instructors with relevant experience.
partnerships with the private sector are crucial to bridge the gap between academia and industry and ensure that graduates are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.
Providing opportunities for practical training and internship and hands on experience is essential for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.
Offering scholarships and sponsorships for students.
d. Stronger Government Regulation and Quality Assurance
Clarity on roles of regulatory agencies, reducing overlaps and duplication.
Stringent licensing, establishment procedures, and inspections.
Accreditation standards and frameworks to improve quality.
Testing and assessments to measure standards across schools.
Enforce minimum infrastructure standards for health, safety and learning. Crackdown on illegal schools while encouraging compliant ones
e. Investment in Teacher Training
Provide affordable professional development opportunities and training programs for teachers in private schools.
Set minimum qualification requirements for teachers.
Promote industry partnerships to train teachers on curricula relevant to the job market.
11. Conclusion
Current State of Education in Nigeria is facing numerous challenges that hinders an individual for fulfilling the philosophy of National Policy on Education (2013) which is education is an instrument for transformation and National Development and Social Change. The question is that as our Education sector improved?
However by actively engaging with the Private Sector / Industries, schools can update their curricula, incorporate modern technologies, and provide hands-on experience, increase graduates’ employability and entrepreneurship capabilities. The private sector’s involvement in Nigerian education signifies a dynamic partnership that benefits both students and industries. As the demand for skilled labor grows, these collaborations become even more critical in preparing a competent workforce.
By coordinating efforts around effective interventions, the private sector can make a substantial contribution to enhancing educational outcomes in Nigeria and ultimately its socio-economic growth, the mutually beneficial relationship between business and global education.
Also by capitalizing on existing gaps, private sector /companies can invest in research and development within tertiary education institutions to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, and strengthen the design and delivery of basic education.
Education as an ‘exportable’ service which holds immense potential for Nigeria.
So, embracing transnational education enables Nigeria to expand international education access and strengthen collaborations with global partners. This strategic move goes beyond academics, fostering cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, skills development, co-funded scholarship programmers, student support services, and the establishment of foreign universities in Nigeria. This initiative not only enriches the local educational ecosystem but also aligns with global trends where countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia benefit significantly from education exports yearly.
The CBN disclosed that foreign education cost the country $28.65bn from 2010 to 2020, with Personal Travel Allowance- PTAs totaling $58.7bn. Redirecting a portion of these funds could have significantly strengthened the Naira. Promoting the transnational education sector in Nigeria is pivotal for boosting the economy and alleviating forex pressure, offering scholarships and fostering partnerships for in-country foreign education delivery. This will also help Nigeria attract more transnational education providers, solidifying its position as Africa’s largest market for international education. Private sector collaborative efforts will play a vital role in improving the international education landscape in Nigeria.
12. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the journey towards the support of the private sector in making our education system sustainable will not be without its challenges, but it is a journey that is worth it in every respect. It will require a multi-sectorial and multi-stake-holders approach and participation involving government, organized private sector, the academia, civil society organizations, community-based associations and the entire Nigerian citizens to improve education outcomes in Nigeria.
12. Before I end this address, let me once again commend the organizers for their foresight in convening this conference and for their dedication in promoting improved quality education in Nigeria.
13. Thank you all for your attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
14. Some of Private Sector Players in the Education Sector in Nigeria.
World Bank 2023 project is to scale up the Adolescent Girls imitative for learning and empowerment ( AGILE) program who’s goal is to improve secondary education opportunities among girls targeted in states of Nigeria.
DFID Fund is aimed at developing effective private education in Nigeria.
UNICEF work plns to expand the Nigerian learning passport to include offline content for 50,000chidren in remot and low income areas.
Partnership for Learning for All (PLANE) in Nigeria is a Commonwealth & Development that focuses on Education Governance Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) aims to support and realize the Government of Nigeria’s commitment to delivering sustainable improvements in learning outcomes for all of Nigeria’s children.
The Dangote Group, a leading conglomerate in Nigeria, has been actively involved in supporting vocational education through its collaboration with technical schools across the country.
MTN Nigeria, a telecommunications giant, has also played a significant role in promoting vocational education.
Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) founded LFBI in 2015 to reduce hunger and poverty by delivering “nutritious food, basic health services, and self-sustenance programmess to the most vulnerable in [Nigerian] society.” Education Enhancement Intervention for Food Insecure Students (EDUFOOD), is targeted at improving the nutritional status and health of students who are affected by food insecurity.
Dream Catchers Academy is a free boarding educational and performing arts academy for orphaned and underserved girls. At the Academy, girls are able to learn and practice various forms of art including dance, music, visual arts, and drama. There are also boarding facilities available where food, shelter, clothing, and general welfare are provided for free, giving the girls a safe space to learn and grow.
Slum2School Africa collaborate with individuals, governments, and companies to provide educational support to children in underprivileged communities.
Dolly Children Foundation, a nonprofit organisation working to provide materials like textbooks, uniforms, and school supplies to children in need and supplement the financial load on their parents.
Afrilearn is an educational platform where teachers can deliver world class education to Africans everywhere. Afrilearn partners with governments, schools, and other organisations to bring digital learning to schools in Nigeria. They also help lighten the workload for teachers by providing them with resources to improve teaching, alongside games and animation to make learning fun for children.
The SEED Teachers-In-Training Fellowship is a transformational and breakthrough model in revolutionizing the teaching profession. We are creating a movement of teachers-in-training leaders with appropriate skills and motivation to eliminate education poverty and inequity. Our goal: End Africa’s teacher shortage by strengthening classroom-to-classroom pipeline with more and better- quality teachers.
