Beyond Government: How Society Sustains Education in Nigeria| Sunkanmi Ajewole
The role of society in sustaining education in Nigeria is undeniable but it is not without its challenges. While community involvement helps fill critical gaps, it also introduces important questions about equity, consistency and sustainability.
National data highlights the depth of this challenge. The National Assessment of Learning Achievement (NALABE 2022), conducted by the Universal Basic Education Commission, reveals wide regional disparities in literacy and numeracy outcomes. This means that a child’s learning experience in Nigeria is often shaped not just by the school they attend but by the strength and resources of the community around them. In many cases, communities respond by organizing volunteer tutoring, after-school programmes and local learning centres. Faith-based and mission schools continue to play a significant role, offering culturally relevant instruction and welfare support, while local businesses and NGOs contribute by funding digital hubs, teacher training and school infrastructure.
However, this reliance on community support comes with trade-offs. Community capacity varies widely and this can deepen educational inequality when wealthier communities are able to provide significantly more support than poorer ones. In addition, the growing dependence on informal fees risks undermining policies that guarantee free basic education, placing additional financial pressure on already vulnerable families.
The way forward is not to reduce the role of society but to strengthen and structure it more effectively. This requires deliberate collaboration between government and communities. Practical steps include training PTAs on transparent budgeting, establishing clear agreements between schools and community groups and directing targeted government funding to under-resourced communities. By doing so, the strengths of community involvement can be preserved while minimizing the risks of inequality.
The human impact of these efforts remains powerful. A mother organizing a group to walk children safely to school, a mosque running evening literacy classes, or a local shop sponsoring a student’s apprenticeship, these everyday actions continue to sustain learning where formal systems struggle. When supported by strong public policy, these efforts can move beyond survival and begin to drive lasting educational transformation.
Without deliberate collaboration between the state and society, Nigeria risks having more children in school but fewer children truly learning.
written by Sunkanmi Ajewole
