Development of Education

in Nigeria
-Past, Present and FutureDr. Samuel N. Maduagwu
Department of Educational Management
Faculty of Education
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Japan Foundation Research Fellow
International Christian University
(IERS Research Fellow)

Continent
of
Africa

Map
of
Nigeria

Geographic Area of Nigeria in Comparison

923,768 Square Kilometres

Three times the size of Great
Britain
OR
Texas and
Oklahoma Combined

Major Cities of Nigeria

(Including Capitals of 36 States plus Abuja)

Population
Density
in
Africa
with
Reference
to
Nigeria

Flag of Nigeria and Its Symbolism

Population Demographics - Ethnicity

Yorubas
21.0%
Igbos
18.0%

Hausas
29.0%

Others
32.0%

Total Population of Nigeria = 126,000,000

Religious Affiliation in Nigeria

Religious Adherents
Muslim
50.0%

Indigenous
10.0%

Christian
40.0%

Islam
in
Africa
(Focus on Nigeria)

Development of Education in Nigeria

-Past, Present and FutureFor our purposes, the educational activities of the
country are divided into three historical periods

Before Nigerian independence in 1960

From 1960 to 1969
From 1970 to the present

Before Nigerian Independence in 1960

The coming of Christian and Muslim missionaries
How Christianity and Islam were embraced by
Nigerians
The growth of Christian and Muslim schools
Educational institutions were administered mainly by
Christian and Muslim missionaries

Routes by Which Missionaries Came to Nigeria

From independence in 1960

A period of great awareness of educational
development in Nigeria
Nigerian government and individuals
became involved in educational
development
Educational standards set by missionaries
continued to be maintained until the
outbreak of the civil war in 1967

Enrolments in Educational Institutions by

Level from 1960 to 1984

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1960

1965

1970

1975-76

1980-81

1983-84

Enrolments in Educational Institutions

by Level and Type from 1960

Number of Educational Institutions by

Level from 1960 to 1984
Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

50

40

30

20

10

0
1960

1965

1970

1975-76

1980-81

1983-84

Number of Educational Institutions by

Level and Type from 1960

From 1970 to the Present

A period of reconstruction after the civil
war
Introduction of universal primary education
Development of national policy on
education
Also the period of the oil boom in Nigeria
Discipline standards in the Nigerian school
system falls to its lowest ebb

Growth in Primary School Enrolment

After the Civil War Ended in 1970

Comparison of Primary School

Enrolment by Region - Totals
North

South

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1975-76

1980-81

1985-86

1990-91

Comparison of Primary School Enrolments

by Females by Region
North

South

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1975-76

1980-81

1985-86

1990-91

Comparison of Primary School Enrolment

by Region (North/South) and Gender

What Nigerian Education Should Look

Like in the 21st Century

Nigerian leaders should give a listening ear to education.

Funding and alternative ways of funding education need to be
addressed.
Advocating for a suitable standard as in Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and
other places with good educational standards.
Education in Nigeria should be globalised to be able to compete with
other nations of the world.
Teaching and learning equipment should be made available for
education to be effective.
Nigerian government needs to harness all the resources for the
education of its citizens.
Above all, Nigeria needs to stablise her government to be able to tackle
the educational challenges of the 21st century.

In Conclusion

Before Nigerian independence in 1960, Nigerian education followed

the pattern set by the Christian and Muslim missionaries.
Between 1960 and 1967, the pattern set by Christian and Muslim
missionaries continued to be followed.
The civil war (1967-1970) was a period of chaos for education in
Nigeria.
Following the end of the civil war in 1970, the Nigerian government
assumed complete responsibility for education in the country.
From 1970, it has not been easy for the educational system in Nigeria
due to many changes in government.
However, some achievements were made during this period, including
the development of a national education policy.
The major challenges for the 21st century include: (1) designing an
educational system that will be stable and global in outlook;
developing a suitable funding formula for education in Nigeria;
maintaining a high standard.