Repositioning Education as Nigeria’s Most Urgent National Priority
Date 21st November, 2025
At the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) International Conference in Umuahia yesterday, I reiterated a truth we must confront: Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful national transformation without first rebuilding its education sector. Our long-standing failure to invest adequately in education and healthcare continues to undermine our economic progress and social wellbeing.
I commended the private school proprietors for their remarkable resilience. They have taken on responsibilities that government should ordinarily bear, and their contribution—shaping over 60% of Nigeria’s basic education sector—remains indispensable. I stressed the need for improved teacher training, curriculum modernisation, technology-driven learning environments, and policies that ensure every child has access to quality education.
Receiving the NAPPS National Role Model Award was deeply humbling. I accepted it on behalf of millions of young Nigerians whose aspirations depend on the quality of opportunities we create for them. I also reflected on initiatives from my time as Governor, when we supported both public and private schools with buses, computers, generators, and other essential learning tools.
Education must move from rhetoric to real national commitment. With strategic planning, adequate funding, and consistent implementation, it can become the engine that drives Nigeria’s transformation.
