Nigeria’s Education Crisis: Too Many Children, Too Few in School

Despite being Africa’s largest economy and one of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria is still struggling to enrol millions of its children in school.

According to a UNESCO report, one out of every five out-of-school children globally is Nigerian. That is over 10 million children — a figure that puts the country at the top of the global out-of-school list since 1999. Experts attribute the crisis to poverty, inadequate infrastructure, cultural barriers, and ineffective policies. In the northern region, especially, school attendance remains very low, particularly for girls. Economic hardship and early marriages are keeping many young girls at home or in street markets instead of classrooms.

Although school enrollment has improved slightly in recent years, 4.7 million primary-aged children are still out of school. Child labour and parents’ lack of education exacerbate the problem. “Some parents think you are mocking them when you talk about school,” said Joy Ukoma, a student who tries to encourage her peers to attend school. To address this, ActionAid Nigeria and the European Union have launched a campaign called ‘Send My Friend to School’ in Abuja. The campaign is utilising student advocates to advocate for improved education and more qualified teachers.

Mrs. Margaret Mowete of the FCT Education Board says it is not just the government’s job: “Parents, teachers, and the government must work together. Every child deserves a quality education.” Nevertheless, until real action is taken, too many Nigerian children will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and illiteracy.