Former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, has described the introduction of Free Universal Primary Education (UPE) in Western Nigeria by the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the most significant milestone in the history of education in Nigeria.
Speaking as the guest lecturer at the Daily Independent’s event marking the 70th anniversary of Free Universal Primary Education in Nigeria and Awards Ceremony, Prof. Nnaji said the initiative triggered unprecedented school enrolment figures across the Western Region.
He noted that Awolowo, who was honoured posthumously with a Legacy Award for his visionary leadership, ‘was a lover of education with the foresight to implement a progressive and transformative scheme.’ ‘Education represents progress. The most fundamental difference between developed and developing nations is the level and quality of education,’ Nnaji stated.
He recalled that in 1979, when the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) controlled Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Bendel states, the party launched a Universal Primary Education programme that led to a sharp rise in school enrolments.
According to him, many young adults, some already nearing 20 years old, returned to school – a reflection of how poverty had previously denied many access to education.
‘I would not have gone beyond primary school but for the benevolence and solidarity of my extended family,’ he added.
Nnaji explained that the free education programme was introduced at a time when Nigeria had only three regions that were engaged in healthy rivalry for development. The Western Region, buoyed by its cocoa revenue, was the richest and had the capacity to implement the policy.
‘It was predictable that the launch of Free Universal Primary Education in the West would spur the Eastern Region to follow suit,’ he said.
However, he noted that Eastern Nigeria faced greater economic challenges because palm produce, its major source of income, generated far less revenue than cocoa.
‘What the Great Zik could not achieve through free education, he compensated for by inspiring and mobilising communities to embrace education enthusiastically,’ Nnaji added.
While underscoring education as a vital tool for national development, Nnaji urged the federal, state, and local governments to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) education in primary schools.
‘I called attention to the need to embrace generative AI in our education system, starting from the primary level. But how can pupils learn AI when many rural teachers are not even computer literate?’ he asked.
He, therefore, proposed a joint funding scheme among the federal, state, and local governments to provide every public school teacher in Nigeria with a computer.
‘AI is the future. Nigeria must not be left behind. We must start preparing our pupils today,’ he emphasised.
During a panel session, Dr. Danladi Bako and Otunba Segun Runsewe lamented the persistent low literacy levels and called for a more functional and practical educational system.
Bako decried the poor funding of primary education and the low wages of teachers, noting that ‘a teacher in Sokoto earns as low as ?15,000 monthly.’
‘The Constitution leaves primary education to local governments. How much can they really handle? In advanced nations, secondary school students design products like lamps that we import,’ he said.
On his part, Runsewe criticised the focus on paper qualifications over practical competence.
‘Many of our graduates have certificates without skills. We must change this mindset and make education practical and impactful. You don’t need a PhD to excel in culture or tourism. Let’s reform education for the next generation,’ he urged.