Nigeria’s reported $11.1bn expenditure on foreign education between 2020 and mid-2025 has renewed calls for reforms to improve the quality and competitiveness of local schools and universities.
Education commissioners, governors, federal officials and other stakeholders are expected to examine measures to address the challenges at the 2026 Nigeria Education Forum, scheduled for December 9 and 10 in Abuja.
Reports citing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data indicate that Nigerians spent about $1.39bn on foreign education in the first half of 2025, bringing the estimated cumulative expenditure to $11.1bn between 2020 and mid-2025.
The figures have raised questions about the ability of domestic institutions to meet students’ expectations in teaching, research, skills development and access to specialised programmes.
The forum, organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, will focus on transforming the country’s education system for local impact and global competitiveness.
The organisers said the objective was not to discourage Nigerians from studying abroad but to strengthen local institutions and expand opportunities for students at home.
The two-day summit is expected to address persistent problems affecting the sector, including inadequate funding, weak research output, poor learning outcomes, unequal access to education and the mismatch between graduates’ qualifications and employers’ needs.
Nigeria’s growing youth population makes the challenges particularly pressing. About 43 per cent of the population is under 14, while the country’s population is projected to approach 400 million by 2050.
The World Bank’s Human Capital Index estimates that a child born in Nigeria today will attain about 37 per cent of their potential productivity, compared with approximately 45 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Stakeholders are expected to discuss ways to improve foundational literacy and numeracy, particularly following learning disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The forum will also examine how schools, technical and vocational institutions, and universities can better prepare students for employment, with emphasis on digital literacy, technical competence, analytical thinking and problem-solving.
With an estimated 3.5 million people entering Nigeria’s labour force annually, improving the connection between education and industry is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
Other areas for consideration include research funding, modern laboratories and classrooms, international academic partnerships, private-sector investment and collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora.
The organisers are also expected to explore ways to improve education financing through public-private partnerships, domestic resource mobilisation and more efficient public spending.
Access and inclusion will form part of the agenda, particularly the barriers facing girls, children with disabilities and pupils in underserved or conflict-affected communities.
Participants are expected to consider reforms covering basic and secondary education, technical and vocational training, higher education and lifelong learning.
The organisers said the forum would seek policy commitments from federal and state governments, stronger partnerships with the private sector and accountability mechanisms for monitoring implementation.
The effectiveness of the initiative, however, will depend on whether its recommendations translate into sustained investment, improved teaching, stronger research capacity and measurable gains in learning outcomes.
Beyond reducing the financial outflow associated with overseas education, the broader objective is to build Nigerian institutions that can attract students, support innovation and equip graduates with skills that meet domestic and international standards.
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