Nigeria’s federal budget allocates just over 7% to education, less than half of the minimum 15% recommended by global education bodies. This chronic underfunding is severely undermining the quality of teaching and learning across the country, warns Dr. Toyin Ajayi, the proprietor of Preston International School in Akure.
Speaking at a leadership training event on Wednesday in the Ondo State capital, Ajayi identified inadequate funding as the primary challenge confronting Nigeria’s education sector from primary schools to universities. According to a report from rss.punchng.com, he argued that insufficient budgetary allocation directly leads to poor teacher welfare, declining academic standards, and a brain drain of qualified educators.
“The problem we have as a nation is that we find it difficult to move on to ensure that we have comparable standards globally. Funding is a major issue,” Ajayi stated. He cautioned that without a significant increase in investment, Nigeria will continue to lose its best teachers and lecturers to other sectors and countries offering better pay.
A Widening Gap
The gap between Nigeria’s spending and international standards is stark. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that developing nations allocate between 15% and 20% of their total public expenditure to education. Nigeria’s allocation has consistently fallen short of this benchmark for years.
This persistent shortfall has tangible consequences. The World Bank notes that while Nigeria has one of the largest education systems in the world, a child born in the country today is expected to achieve only a fraction of their productive potential due to gaps in education and health services. Poor education funding undermining quality teaching and learning is not just an abstract concern; it directly impacts human capital development.
Curriculum in Need of Reform
Beyond funding, Ajayi also called for urgent reforms to the country’s curriculum. He argued the current system places too much emphasis on rote memorization rather than fostering the creativity and problem-solving skills necessary for the modern world. This focus on a single correct answer can stifle genuine understanding.
“In many of our marking schemes in Nigeria, it is just one answer,” he explained. “Whereas in international curricula, you can have several different ways of answering the same question and still get marks because it shows understanding.”
For students preparing for national exams, access to the right materials is essential. Resources like a comprehensive JAMB, WAEC, and NECO syllabus can help structure their studies. Similarly, using tools like BECE CCA past questions and past papers for BECE English helps students practice with the kind of questions they will face, even within the current system’s limitations.
A Unified Call for Youth Support
The event, organised by the Servant Leader Foundation for 83 secondary school students, featured other speakers who echoed the need for greater investment in young people. Damilola Oluwatosin, the foundation’s Acting Team Lead, said the training was designed to equip students with leadership skills.
Oluwadamilola Ipinmoye, a banking expert, called on government and private organizations to support youth through mentorship and financial aid, stressing that education is the most powerful tool for national development.
Adding a technological perspective, Chris Ombeh, CEO of WinExpress Technology, urged policymakers to integrate technology and artificial intelligence into the school curriculum. He warned that Nigeria must adapt to global advancements to avoid being left behind and must guide its youth toward the productive use of these new tools.
The Path Forward
The consensus from the Akure event is clear: Nigeria’s future competitiveness depends on immediate and substantial action in its education sector. The issue of poor education funding undermining quality teaching and learning is a foundational problem that ripples through the entire economy.
Without addressing the core problems of budget allocation, teacher welfare, and curriculum relevance, the country risks not only failing its current generation of students but also compromising its long-term development goals. The calls for change are growing louder, linking increased investment not just to better schools, but to a more prosperous and innovative nation.