Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African nations are facing a significant education funding gap, spending an average of $54 per student compared to $8,500 in high-income countries, according to the World Bank’s November Africa Pulse Report.
The report highlighted stark disparities in education financing, with governments in high-income nations investing about $117,000 per student by age 18, while their Sub-Saharan counterparts allocate only $1,900. This chronic underinvestment is reflected in limited access to essential resources such as textbooks, teaching materials, and technology, further hindering learning outcomes.
“Today, schools still often lack essential resources like textbooks, teaching materials, and technology, or do not use them effectively. Despite recent increases in education spending, current spending levels are not enough to meet national and global education goals,” the report stated.
The World Bank also noted that the average girl in Sub-Saharan Africa will complete just eight years of schooling by age 18, compared to 13 years in high-income countries.
In Nigeria, education remains underfunded despite the Federal Government and 22 states allocating N6.131 trillion—only 9.27% of the N66.111 trillion proposed 2025 budget. This falls below recommended benchmarks set by Nigeria, the World Bank, and UNESCO.
The report warned that the education shortfall threatens Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic prospects. With a rapidly growing population, the region has a unique opportunity to leverage its youth demographic but risks falling behind unless substantial investments are made.
The World Bank called for urgent reforms, including increased education spending, better resource allocation, and programs to improve foundational literacy, align skills training with local economies, and transition youth from school to employment.
An additional year of schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa boosts individual incomes by 12.4%, above the global average of 10%, with women gaining even more at 14.5%, the report found. “Education is not just an investment in individuals; it is an investment in the region’s economic future,” it concluded.
