NIGERIA @60: UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES IN EDUCATION SECTOR.

Where Are We?

FELIX, Ambition Chidubem, Writes.

One in every five African is Nigerian; that shows how large and populated Nigeria is. It is not just African’s most populous Nation, but also Africa’s most popular Nation. To some people in the West, every African is a Nigerian, one can hardly fault them; inscribing their names on the map of every Continent. But what is the country most Famous for across the globe, oil. The number one thing Africa’s giant is most famous for is petroleum. When you think oil, you think Nigeria. Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil producer, though the country went from 10th to 12th largest producer of oil in World. Oil play a poignant role in the country’s economy, accounting for about 70% of government revenue and 95% of foreign exchange income. The issue of oil cannot be over emphasized in a hurry, knowing to the fact oil is the major source of revenue to Nigeria (Mono-Economy).

Nigeria as one of the Countries in Africa is occupied by thirty Six (36) State and a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) cited at Abuja, it is a Multi-lingual Nation, major language speaking ethnic groups are Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Historically Nigeria got her Independence from the Colonial Maters in October 1st, 1960 and became a Republic in 1963 with the first civilian President in the person of, Late.NNAMDI AZIKIWE, and other dictators that followed suit, which ushered her into 4th Republic in 1999 by the former Military leader, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO. That gave rise to successful Civilian Presidents from 1999 till date. Nigeria is enrich with other resources apart from oil, such as, Agriculture, Mine, Timber, Rubber, etc.

Apart from oil sector, there are other sectors that are proficient enough to form the source of revenue in boosting her economy, like other western countries. Such as Agriculture and Education, to mention but a few, which have been relegated to the background and are being allocated the lesser percentage in the National Budget. Malaysia today is driven by the Agricultural Sector and United Kingdom (Uk), what makes 75% of her economy is the Education sector. In the life of every individual education should not be seen as a second option. All western countries grew by making education of their compatriots a priority.
Education is an effective tool that can be used to respond rapidly to the changing needs and aspiration of any nation. It is generally known that education unlocks the door to modernization. Thus, every nation takes its educational system and processes very serious because an error made in the education development of a child becomes a perpetual and mortal error, when the mind educated individuals transmits his/her shortfall and disabilities to subsequent generations. In this context, the process of human development in any given situation and times is interlinked with the process and quality of education available to the citizens and society. Ughamadu (2006) opined that education is a systematic training and instruction designed to transmit knowledge of skills in individuals. It has to do with teaching and learning.
Nigeria as a nation has accepted education as an instrument “par excellence” and an excellent tool for effective national development, because it is the most important instrument for positive change. Education is therefore, the process whereby one is prepared for the task of living happily with one’s neighbor and advancing the course of one’s society as well as finding solutions to its problems in prevailing circumstances and dispositions. For this reason it is not farfetched when you look and digest the purposes education serves in different dispensations. The purpose of education in 19th century may greatly differ from the intending purpose of education in 21th century. It is quite alarming and worrisome that in this contemporary time education is being given less attention in  National budget allocations. Generally Federal Government’s allocation to education in the past ten (10) years, 2009 till date has been miserly. Out of the national budget of 55.19 trillion, only 3.90trillion or 7.07% was allocated to the sector. 

Where are we?

Let’s break it down, in 2009, 221.19bn (7.25%) out of its 3.049 trillion budget was allocated to education, in 2010, 249.09bn with (4.83%) out of 5.16trillion budget. 2011, 306.3bn (6.16%) of 4.972trillion budget. 2012 (8.21%), 2013 (8.55%), 2014 (9.94%), 2015 (7.74%), 2016 (6.10%), 2017 (7.4%), 2018 (7.04%), 2019 (7.05%)  and in 2020 the sum of 691.07bn constituting 6.7% of the National budget has been allocated to the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Education these shows that, there were marginal improvement from 2011-2014 in 2015 and 2016 it dropped significantly in President Muhammadu Buhari’s first full year in Office. Nigeria Education sector has always experienced an interrupted academic session because of failure to meet with the demands of the University lecturers.

Recurring Strikes

Between 1992 and 2017, University lecturers went on nationwide strike twenty (20) time, with attendance adverse effects on education at the tertiary level in the country. Between 1992 and 1999, there were seven (7) strikes by lecturers, including industrial strikes, trade dispute, internal strike and nationwide strikes, and between, 2010-2020 there have been thirteen (13) strikes of same similitude as mentioned above. Poor funding has been the bane identified as the major challenge in the education sector, especially tertiary education, which has led to the incessant strike actions by teaching and non-teaching staff. There were several agreements signed between the Federal Government and the lecturer’s umbrella body, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in 1981/82, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2013 which were not faithfully implemented by the Government, lack of tangible results on the key issues over the years had adverse effects on the standard of education in the country. This has deteriorated the values of education of which, no Nigerian Universities is in the list of top 100 Universities in the World. 

Where are we?

To revamp and save education in Nigeria to drive development, there is need to adequately fund the education sector by all tiers of government, it should occupy 15% of the national budget, and this will be evident in the lives of lectures, students and society at large. Education is the panacea to national development, it is the only instrument for change, and tertiary institutions are the hub/engine room for researches.

Nigeria is 60 years old of independences today. Where are we in the areas of road infrastructures, education, commerce, employment, policy implementation, polity, electricity, security, external values, etc?

FELIX, Ambition Chidubem.
Lecturer, Department of Curriculum and Teacher Education, Abia State University.
Email: felixambition@gmail.com