Nigeria’s reported expenditure of $11.1 billion on foreign education between 2020 and mid-2025 has renewed concerns over the competitiveness of local educational institutions.

To this effect, state education commissioners, governors, federal officials and other stakeholders prepare to examine reforms aimed at improving teaching, research and skills development.

The issue is expected to feature prominently at the 2026 Nigeria Education Forum (NEF), scheduled for December 9 and 10 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, where participants will explore ways to strengthen Nigeria’s education system, improve learning outcomes and reduce the factors driving demand for overseas education.

The two-day summit is being organised by the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education in Nigeria (COSCEN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and other education stakeholders.

With the theme, “Education Import: Transforming Nigeria’s Education System for Local Impact and Global Competitiveness,” the forum will examine the implications of Nigerians spending billions of dollars on tuition, accommodation and other expenses associated with studying abroad.

Reports citing Central Bank of Nigeria data indicate that Nigerians spent about $1.39 billion on foreign education in the first half of 2025, while the cumulative expenditure was estimated at $11.1 billion between 2020 and mid-2025.

Although overseas education offers students opportunities for international exposure, specialised training and academic collaboration, the scale of the reported expenditure has raised questions about the capacity of domestic institutions to meet the expectations of students and their families.

The summit organisers, however, said the objective was not to discourage international education but to explore how Nigeria could improve its local institutions, attract investment and establish partnerships that would benefit students and strengthen the country’s education system.

The forum is expected to bring together state governors, ministers, commissioners of education, development partners, researchers, education experts and other stakeholders to identify practical solutions to persistent challenges across the sector.

Beyond the financial implications of foreign education, discussions will focus on foundational learning deficits, inadequate education funding, weak research output, limited innovation, unequal access to schooling and the persistent mismatch between graduates’ qualifications and employers’ requirements.

Nigeria’s growing population makes these challenges increasingly urgent.

About 43 per cent of Nigerians are under the age of 14, while the country’s population is projected to approach 400 million by 2050.

The expanding youth population presents opportunities for economic growth, but the benefits will depend substantially on the ability of the education system to equip young people with relevant knowledge, practical skills and the capacity to respond to changing labour market demands.

The World Bank’s Human Capital Index estimates that a child born in Nigeria today will achieve about 37 per cent of their potential productivity, compared with approximately 45 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

The forum will also consider the implications of learning deficiencies that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many pupils struggling with basic literacy and numeracy.

These weaknesses, if not addressed, could undermine students’ progression through the education system, limit their employment opportunities and reduce the productivity of the country’s future workforce.

With an estimated 3.5 million people entering Nigeria’s labour force annually, stakeholders are expected to examine how schools, technical and vocational institutions, and universities can better prepare learners for existing jobs and emerging industries.

Particular attention will be given to digital literacy, technical competence, analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, as artificial intelligence, automation and other technological developments continue to reshape workplaces.

The summit will also examine how Nigeria can adapt successful international education practices to local conditions by improving classrooms, laboratories, research facilities, academic programmes and collaboration between educational institutions and industry.

Research partnerships, international academic exchanges and engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora are among the approaches expected to feature in discussions on strengthening local capacity and improving the global visibility of Nigerian institutions.

The organisers said such collaborations could help domestic institutions expand opportunities for students, promote innovation and develop solutions to local economic and social challenges.

Education financing and sustainability will also form a major part of the discussions, particularly against the backdrop of competing demands on public resources and the need to improve the quality of education at all levels.

Participants are expected to consider how government funding could be complemented by private investment, public-private partnerships, domestic resource mobilisation and more efficient spending.

The emphasis, according to the organisers, will be on ensuring that available resources translate into better facilities, improved teaching, stronger research capacity and measurable gains in learning outcomes.

The forum will further examine barriers preventing children from accessing education, including poverty, gender inequality, disability, insecurity and geographical disparities.

Girls, vulnerable groups and children in underserved or conflict-affected communities are expected to feature prominently in discussions on improving access, equity and inclusion.

Other priority areas include strengthening education governance, improving coordination among government institutions, establishing reliable data systems and ensuring transparency in monitoring policy implementation.

The organisers said effective reforms would require more than policy declarations, stressing the importance of clear institutional responsibilities, sustained investment, consistent evaluation and accountability for results.

Discussions will cover basic and secondary education, technical and vocational education and training, higher education, informal learning and lifelong learning, with particular attention to helping Nigerians acquire new skills as economic and technological conditions change.

Research and innovation will also feature on the agenda, including strategies for improving research funding and helping universities translate academic findings into products, services and practical solutions.

COSCEN and its partners expect the forum to generate policy commitments from federal and state authorities, strengthen public-private partnerships, expand international collaboration and identify education innovations that can be implemented on a wider scale.

The summit is also expected to develop accountability frameworks to help stakeholders monitor progress and assess the impact of agreed reforms.

 

However, the success of the initiative will depend on whether the recommendations are translated into sustained funding, effective implementation and measurable improvements in the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian institutions.

 

For Nigeria, the challenge extends beyond the amount spent on overseas education. It also involves creating an education system that gives students confidence in local institutions, supports research and innovation, and equips graduates with skills that meet domestic and international standards.

The December forum is expected to provide a platform for federal and state governments, education providers and private-sector partners to develop practical strategies towards achieving those objectives.