The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the gaps in the country’s education sector. Only about 36% of educational institutions have access to digital learning, and there are significant disparities in literacy rates between urban and rural areas.
At a pre-summit webinar, NESG Board Member Wonu Adetayo emphasized the importance of closing these gaps to build an inclusive and competitive education system. She noted that Nigeria’s literacy rate stands at 62%, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, only 36% of schools have access to digital learning, and there are challenges related to inadequate teacher training and infrastructural deficits.
Professor Bolanle Ogunbamila, Head of the Secretariat at NESG’s Triple Helix Roundtable, stressed the need for effective collaboration between industry, academia, and government to address the skills gap and drive innovation. Dr. Modupe Adefeso Olateju, Founder of The Education Partnership (TEP), presented evidence-based policy recommendations for closing the skills gap, noting that about 18.3 million children are out of school from primary to senior secondary levels.
The NESG has called for a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for actionable policies and measures to address both immediate and long-term challenges in the sector. The group aims to develop a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s education system, focusing on digital learning, teacher training, and infrastructural development.
Key points:
- Only 36% of educational institutions have access to digital learning
- Significant disparities in literacy rates between urban and rural areas
- Need for comprehensive strategy to address gaps in education sector
- Collaboration between industry, academia, and government essential for driving innovation
- Evidence-based policy recommendations presented for closing skills gap
- NESG aims to develop roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s education system.
