Education in Nigeria has undergone significant evolution, reflecting the country’s socio-cultural, economic, and political changes. In pre-colonial Nigeria, education was informal, rooted in the traditions and cultures of the various ethnic groups. It was primarily aimed at equipping individuals with skills and values necessary for survival and societal integration.
It is important to know how education was before the arrival of the westerners, the progress of education, the challenges associated with education and general appraisal of the educational system in Nigeria from that period to date.
The Nigerian education system has undergone several changes over the years. From indigenous education, all the way to the western education system that is in effect today, the history of education in Nigeria is an incredibly eye-opening topic that is sure to spark the interest of any history buff out there.
Nigeria has a federal system of government with 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Education is administered by the federal, state and local governments. The Federal Ministry of Education is responsible for overall policy formation and ensuring quality control, but is primarily involved with tertiary education. The country is multilingual, and home to more than 250 different ethnic groups.
Education is both the act of teaching knowledge to others and the act of receiving knowledge from someone else. Education, is a process of inviting truth and possibility, of encouraging and giving time to discovery. As a process, it is part of being and living in the world, part of the way our bodies work.
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According to Nigeria’s latest National Policy on Education (2004), basic education covers nine years of formal (compulsory) schooling consisting of six years of elementary and three years of junior secondary education. At the tertiary level, the system consists of a university sector and a non-university sector. The latter is composed of polytechnics, monotechnic, and colleges of education. The academic year typically runs from September to July. Most universities use a semester system of 18 - 20 weeks.
Pre-Colonial Education in Nigeria
Before the British arrived in the early nineteenth century, there were two major types of education in Nigeria.
- Islamic Education: This type of education was only afforded to members of the Islamic religion across all Muslim communities.
- Indigenous Education: Students were exposed to the realities of society and trained how to apply practical skills in adding significantly to the progress of their society. This was the traditional training at the pre-colonial era which is still in practice today.
Islamic Education in Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria was prominently taught purely Islamic religious education before the British occupation in the 1840s. Each Muslim community in Nigeria had a mallam who taught children as early as 5 years old the teachings of the Qur’an and the Arabic alphabet. In larger cities, communities set up schools that also taught science and math.
In the Islamic north, education was strictly religious in nature. In each Muslim community, a mallam drilled children as young as five years old in the teachings of the Qur'an and the Arabic alphabet. During the colonial era, larger cities set up more expansive Islamic schools that included subjects such as math and science. In 1913, these Islamic schools, almost all in the north, numbered 19,073 and enrolled 143,312 students. In the 1970s, the government took control of the Islamic schools, but in the 1990s, the schools were allowed to operate independently again.
Indigenous Education
The indigenous form of education was the second form of education that existed in Nigeria before the 1840s. In this system, children were taught practical skills that were necessary depending on the needs of the local community and general society within a certain area. Children as young as two to three years old belonged to an age group, and each age group was assigned specific duties around their village, such as clearing brush or sweeping lanes.
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As the children grew older, they were given specific tasks depending on their sex; boys were taught farming or more specialised tasks, such as drumming and wood carving, whereas girls were also taught domestic skills.
The involvement of the students in basic and specialized trainings was dependent on the age of the students and their genders. Usually children within two or three years of age belonged to an age-group. Together, they learned the customs of their community and were assigned specific duties around the village, such as sweeping lanes or clearing brush. As the children grew older, the boys were introduced to farming and more specialized work, such as wood carving or drumming. Girls would learn farming and domestic skills. Boys would often enter into apprenticeship-type relationships with master craftsmen.
Students were exposed to the realities of society and trained how to apply practical skills in adding significantly to the progress of their society.
The Introduction of Western Education
Advent of Western Education in Nigeria (Module 2 – EDU714 NOUN Summary & Explanation)
Around the 1840s, Western education was introduced into Nigeria by Christian British missionaries.
Formal, Western-type of education was introduced by British missionaries in the 1840s. The Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS) started several schools in the mid-1800s. The colonial government gave the church financial aid, but in the early twentieth century the government began building primary and secondary schools. By the time the British combined the northern and southern regions into one colony in 1914, a total of 11 secondary schools were in operation, all but 1 run by missionaries.
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In 1840, British missionaries introduced the first form of western education to Nigerian land, when they started the first primary school. 9 Years later, in 1954, the first Anglican Church Missionary Society (CMS) grammar school was opened by Christian Missionaries in Lagos, becoming the first secondary school to open in Nigeria.
When the northern and southern territories of Nigeria were brought together by Lord Lugard in 1914, the demand for schools had increased dramatically. Due to this demand, the growth of western education was incredibly rapid and led to the establishment of the University of Ibadan in 1948, which was the very first Nigerian university. At the same time as the public schools and universities were being formed, many private schools were founded and built as well, creating a multitude of choices for the different social classes in Nigeria.
In the process of time, the colonial government rendered financial assistance to the missionaries and began establishing primary and secondary schools. This was achieved through an Ordinance promulgated in 1882 declaring the establishment of formal education in Nigeria. This was a significant progress and the beginning of the gradual development of the Nation.
Post-Independence Developments
After gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria prioritized expanding education to foster national development. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, launched in 1976, was a landmark initiative aimed at providing free and compulsory education. Over the years, successive governments introduced policies to expand access to education, including the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in 1999. The Nigerian education system has undergone several changes over the years.
At this time, primary and secondary schools and the first University were established across the country. The second University was established by the Eastern Region, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in the Independence year of 1960. More universities and schools in general were being established but only the tertiary institutions were mandatorily meant to be established by the Federal or State Government.
The 6-3-3-4 System
In 2008, however, the scheme was altered to fit the 9-year basic education scheme that fit the needs of the universal education programme. Therefore, the educational structure became the 9-3-4 formula, which consists of 9 years of basic education, 3 years of secondary school education and 4 years of tertiary education.
With the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 system of education in Nigeria, the recipient of the education would spend six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school, three years in senior secondary school, and four years in a tertiary institution. But under review, the six years spent in primary school and the three years spent in junior secondary school are merged to form the nine in the 9-3-4 system. Altogether, the students must spend a minimum period of six years in Secondary School.
Structure of the Education System Today
The formal education system in Nigeria includes:
- 6 years of primary schooling
- 3 years of junior secondary schooling
- 3 years of senior secondary schooling, and
- 4 years of university education, finally directing toward a bachelor's level degree in the majority of the subjects.
Even though English is the legally approved language of instruction, some basic level institutions in Nigeria may teach in their native languages, depending on the location of the school. Secondary School students are able to choose from formal and vocational education options.
In order for secondary school students to be allowed to attend tertiary education institutions in Nigeria, they must first pass the senior school examination, which is prepared by the West African examination council (WAEC), and the National examination council (NECO). In order for these students to gain admission into Nigerian tertiary education institutions, they must pass either the WAEC or NECO exam, as well as the unified tertiary matriculation exam (UTME). However, after some irregularities in the conduct of the way the UTME exams were being graded, some institutions prefer to hold their own internal exams to screen their students even further before admission.
Tertiary Education
Tertiary education in Nigeria is an umbrella term that encapsulates universities, as well as polytechnics and colleges of education. All the activities of accredited universities in Nigeria are regulated and overseen by the governing body known as the National University Commission (NUC). The university curricula are structured to ensure that the students are prepared to contribute towards national development and to encourage entrepreneurs to create more job opportunities in their local communities.
Colleges of education are more suited towards students who want to become teachers. Polytechnics have a much more hands-on approach to education, teaching students who want to follow engineering, industrialisation or economics. This way, the students can develop to gain specialised technical training and appropriate skill acquisition to contribute to their community.
The Federal Executive Council of the President Muhammadu Buhari government, approved the establishment of 20 new private universities on February 3, 2021, in Nigeria. The list and location of the newly approved Universities and their locations are as follows:
- Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
- Claretian University, Nekede, Imo State
- Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
- Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State
- Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo State
- Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
- Karl Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
- Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
- Thomas Adewumi University, Oko Irese, Kwara State
- Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
- Anan University, Kwall, Plateau State
- Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
- Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
- James Hope University, Agbor, Delta State
- Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State
- Maryam Abacha American University Of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
- Mewar International University Nigeria, Masaka, Nasarawa State
- Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
Some of the important educational institutions of Nigeria are:
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
- Bayero University
- Government College of Ibadan
- Lagos Business School
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- University of Benin
- University of Lagos
- Yaba College of Technology
Challenges and the Way Forward
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally. According to UNICEF, approximately 10.5 million children aged 5-14 are out of school, with the majority in Northern Nigeria. This crisis is exacerbated by insecurity, poverty, cultural practices, and gender inequality.
The shortage of qualified teachers is another critical issue. Nigeria’s teacher-to-student ratio often falls below the UNESCO-recommended benchmark of 1:40. In public schools, overcrowded classrooms and poorly trained teachers negatively impact learning outcomes.
The digital revolution is gradually transforming education in Nigeria. Initiatives such as the Federal Government’s e-learning programs and private-sector-led innovations have expanded access to digital learning tools. Platforms like uLesson and Edves are revolutionizing how students and teachers engage with learning materials.
The Nigerian government has implemented various policies and programs to address the challenges in education. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international agencies, and the private sector are pivotal in complementing government efforts. Organizations like UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Bank provide funding and technical support for educational projects.
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