The Federal Government has expressed concern that two geopolitical zones in Nigeria, which have received approximately 80% of development partners' investments in the education sector over the past decade, continue to record the lowest literacy and numeracy rates in the country.
Minister's Statement at NEDI Workshop
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this known yesterday in Abuja during a stakeholders' workshop on the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI). He emphasized that this trend highlights the urgent need for accurate and reliable education data to guide policy formulation, resource allocation, and intervention programs nationwide.
Although the minister did not name the specific regions, he noted that despite substantial investments from donor agencies and development partners, learning outcomes in the affected areas have remained below expectations. This raises concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of the interventions.
“As we look at our data, the total amount of development bank financing and development partners’ investment shows that about 80 per cent of those investments in the last 10 years have gone to two geopolitical zones in the country. Yet, those two zones still have the lowest literacy and numeracy rates in the country,” he said.
NEDI Initiative for Evidence-Based Decisions
The minister explained that the NEDI initiative aims to strengthen data collection, management, and analysis within the education sector to support evidence-based decision-making. According to him, the platform will help the government and stakeholders track progress, identify gaps, and ensure that education investments are distributed more equitably to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes nationwide.
Alausa stressed that the Federal Government remains committed to reforming the education sector through technology-driven solutions and improved institutional coordination. He said credible and harmonized data would enable policymakers to identify underserved communities, monitor school performance, and deploy resources more efficiently to areas with the greatest needs.
Call for Collaboration
The minister also called on development partners, state governments, and other stakeholders to align their interventions with national priorities and evidence-based strategies. He maintained that stronger collaboration and accountability mechanisms are necessary to ensure that investments in the sector translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes and access to quality education across the country.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that as of early 2026, the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones rank lowest in literacy rates in Nigeria.
Women Affairs Minister's Remarks
In her presentation, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as a timely intervention aimed at strengthening educational planning, coordination, and service delivery through credible and integrated data systems. She said education remains one of the strongest foundations for national development, family wellbeing, and social progress.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended the Federal Ministry of Education for convening the workshop, noting that the initiative reflects the government's commitment to building a modern, evidence-based education system capable of delivering inclusive learning and improved outcomes for children and young people across the country.
According to her, reliable education data would significantly enhance efforts in child protection, family development, girls' education, social inclusion, and support for vulnerable groups. She stressed that accurate and integrated data systems would enable government and stakeholders to identify gaps, improve coordination, target interventions effectively, and ensure that vulnerable children are not left behind.
