Nigeria's $2.65bn education allocation trails African peers
Nigeria budgeted N3.52 trillion for education, about $2.65 billion or 2.14 percent of GDP, far behind South Africa, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco and Kenya. Per-student spending data is missing for Nigeria, and experts blame poor funding and misplaced priorities.
What the institution said
Nigeria's federal education allocation is $2.65 billion
“Nigeria’s $2.65 billion federal allocation for education places it far behind”
Nigeria budgeted N3.52 trillion for education
“Nigeria budgeted N3.52 trillion for education, equivalent to about $2.65 billion”
The education allocation represents about 2.14 percent of GDP
“The allocation represents about 2.14 percent of GDP.”
Using the World Bank's 2025 PPP conversion factor, the allocation is about $18.1 billion
“puts the allocation at about $18.1 billion in dollars”
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48.6 million pupils are enrolled in primary and secondary education
“Spread across the 48.6 million pupils enrolled in primary and secondary education”
Per-learner spending amounts to about $371
“this amounts to about $371 per learner”
South Africa committed about $33 billion to education in its 2025/26 fiscal cycle
“South Africa, by comparison, committed about $33 billion to education in its 2025/26 fiscal cycle”
South Africa allocated nearly 24 percent of government spending to education
“The country allocated nearly 24 percent of its overall government spending to education”
South Africa's education allocation is estimated at more than R500 billion
“with the allocation estimated at more than R500 billion”
Ethiopia allocated about $12.3 billion to education
“Ethiopia allocated about $12.3 billion to education”
Ethiopia's education spending is roughly 3.74 to 4.07 percent of GDP
“put education spending at roughly 3.74 percent to 4.07 percent of GDP”
Algeria's education allocation is estimated at about $12 billion
“with an allocation estimated at about $12 billion”
Algeria's education accounted for 15.54 percent of total government expenditure in 2025
“education accounted for 15.54 percent of total government expenditure in 2025”
Algeria's education share fell from 23.89 percent in 2024
“down from 23.89 percent in 2024”
Morocco allocated about $8.5 billion to education
“Morocco allocated about $8.5 billion to education”
Kenya committed approximately $5.4 billion to education
“Kenya committed approximately $5.4 billion, equivalent to about 16.6 percent of its national budget”
Kenya's education allocation is about 16.6 percent of its national budget
“equivalent to about 16.6 percent of its national budget”
Per-student spending data is missing for Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Angola, Benin and Cameroon
“per-student spending figures are missing for many African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Angola, Benin and Cameroon”
South Africa's per-student expenditure was $1,042 pre-primary, $2,642 primary, $2,969 secondary and $9,049 tertiary
“South Africa’s per-student expenditure in constant purchasing-power-parity dollars was reported at $1,042 for pre-primary education, $2,642 for primary, $2,969 for secondary and $9,049 for tertiary education”
Mauritius recorded $933 pre-primary, $3,549 primary, $6,777 secondary and $2,535 tertiary per student
“Mauritius recorded $933 per student at pre-primary level, $3,549 at primary level, $6,777 at secondary level and $2,535 at tertiary level”
Senegal recorded $259, $611, $1,350 and $4,546 across the four levels
“Senegal recorded $259, $611, $1,350 and $4,546 respectively across the four levels”
Côte d'Ivoire recorded $370, $610, $744 and $3,444
“Côte d’Ivoire recorded $370, $610, $744 and $3,444”
Rwanda recorded $121 per primary pupil, $287 per secondary student and $745 at tertiary level
“Rwanda recorded $121 per primary pupil, $287 per secondary student and $745 at tertiary level”
Chad recorded $3 pre-primary, $129 primary, $264 secondary and $2,120 tertiary
“Chad recorded $3 at pre-primary level, $129 at primary, $264 at secondary and $2,120 at tertiary”
Kingsley Moghalu is president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation
“Kingsley Moghalu, president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation”
Mojeed Alabi is president of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria
“Alabi, who is the president of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria”
All 26 facts in this piece were located word for word in the institution's own notice before it was published.
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BusinessDay, educationPublished by the institution on Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:54:17 +0000. We summarise and link; we do not reproduce their notice.
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