Nigeria @66: Education gets fresh push, old problems remain

Nigeria commemorates its 66th Independence anniversary amid a mix of reforms and persistent challenges in its education sector. The Federal Government, under Minister Tunji Alausa, has pursued various initiatives including library revitalisation, digital learning programmes, improved financing and efforts to address out-of-school children.

However, the question remains whether these reforms will lead to better learning outcomes, functional infrastructure and equitable access to quality education for all Nigerians. Since gaining independence in 1960, the Nigerian education system has undergone numerous policy changes in an attempt to expand access, improve standards and develop a skilled workforce to drive national development.

Despite these efforts, the sector continues to face issues such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, poor learning outcomes, an increasing population of out-of-school children, funding constraints and a gap between educational qualifications and the skills demanded by employers. Alausa's reform agenda offers an opportunity to tackle these structural weaknesses in the system.

The National Library of Nigeria serves as a symbol of the sector's infrastructure challenges. Originally conceived as a national centre for knowledge preservation and access to information, the library's construction began in 2006 but has since been delayed. In August 2026, the Federal Executive Council approved additional funding for completion, estimated at N155bn.

The minister warned that those responsible for the project will be held accountable for agreed timelines, highlighting the importance of effective supervision, transparent procurement and clear responsibility for delivery.

The National Library's success will depend not only on completing the structure but also on ensuring it becomes a functional national institution that contributes to research, literacy and knowledge development. The out-of-school children crisis, on the other hand, reflects a deeper problem involving access, poverty, insecurity and the quality of basic education.

Nigeria is believed to have one of the world's largest populations of children out of formal education, with estimates ranging from 18 million. Expanding school infrastructure alone cannot resolve this issue, as many children remain excluded due to indirect costs, insecurity, displacement, child labour and social barriers.