Education
Vision: Every Nigerian child in a classroom with a trained teacher, reading with understanding by age ten, and with a real path to university, polytechnic or a skilled trade.
Nigeria's young population is its greatest asset, and education is how that asset pays off. The gaps are large and well documented. So is the evidence on what closes them: teachers, early reading, and keeping children in school.
Where we stand
Established facts. Every one has a numbered source below.
18.3 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest number of any country, according to UNICEF figures reported in May 2024.[1]
Secondary reporting of UNICEF figures. The primary UNICEF release would be a stronger source.
A World Bank report cited in March 2025 found that at least 37 million of 50.7 million Nigerian children aged 7 to 14 cannot read and understand a simple text.[2]
Secondary reporting. Nigeria does not yet publish an official learning-poverty figure.
2,030,627 candidates registered for the 2025 university entrance examination (UTME), according to JAMB.[3]
What we're building
Vision. Not true yet, and all of it is within reach.
Reading by ten
Every child reads a simple text with understanding by age ten, measured every year and published by state, so progress is visible.
Teachers who are trained and valued
Teaching becomes a paid, respected, well-supported profession, with ongoing training and classroom coaching rather than one-off workshops.
Learning in the language children speak
Early grades teach in a language children already know, with good books and lessons in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and other Nigerian languages.
Many respected paths
Universities with seats for everyone who qualifies, and polytechnics and apprenticeships that carry equal prestige and lead to real jobs.
Where we start
Proposed first moves, small enough to begin this year.
Reading recovery packs
Collect proven, openly licensed early-reading lessons and adapt them for Nigerian classrooms and languages.
Diaspora mentors
Pair Nigerian academics and professionals abroad with secondary and university students for monthly mentoring and project supervision.
A school data map
Map published enrolment and learning data by state, with sources, so communities and funders can see where help is needed most.
How you can help
Tell us what you know and what you can give. We'll reply personally.
Offer help with education- Teachers and teacher trainers
- Adapt lessons, test them in real classrooms, and coach new teachers.
- Academics in Nigeria and abroad
- Mentor students, co-supervise projects, give guest lectures online.
- Writers and translators
- Help create early-reading books in Nigerian languages.
- Edtech builders and funders
- Build for low-cost phones and offline use, or sponsor a reading programme.
Sources
We checked every link and figure on the date shown. If you find a newer or better source, tell us and we'll update the page.
- 1.
Legit.ng. Nigeria tops global ranking with 18.3M out-of-school children, 9 May 2024.Accessed 10 October 2026.
- 2.
BusinessDay. Nigeria's 37m children can't read, understand simple text: World Bank, 13 March 2025.Accessed 10 October 2026.
- 3.
AllAfrica. UTME 2025: JAMB registers 2 million candidates as registration closes, 11 March 2025.Accessed 10 October 2026.