…falls below UNESCO education budget threshold
…experts, stakeholders worry as out -of- school children number swells
By Shadrach Okon
Akwa Ibom State under the APC led government of Pastor Umo Bassy Eno has been ranked among states in the country with the lowest budget provision for the education sector in 2025.
Findings by the Guide Newspaper during the week revealed that 2025 budget, Akwa Ibom State allocated ₦59.96 billion to education, which positioned it at 28th place among the states for education funding. This represents a lower amount in budgetary provision for education compared to 2024 fiscal year, which state allocated ₦69.85 billion to the education sector.
According to data drawn from StatiSense, in 2024, Akwa Ibom State was ranked 10th among Nigerian states in terms of the total amount of money allocated to education in its budget.
According to data from StatiSense, the ranking of Akwa Ibom’s 2024 education budget compared to other states is as follows: Lagos: ₦170.9 billion, Enugu: ₦158.78 billion, Delta: ₦133.53 billion, Kano: ₦121.58 billion, Kaduna: ₦115.42 billion, Abia: ₦113.57 billion, Ogun: ₦107.96 billion, Jigawa: ₦94.6 billion, Oyo: ₦90.75 billion, Akwa Ibom: ₦69.85 billion, Niger: ₦75.89 billion.
The Guide Newspaper reports that in 2025, Akwa Ibom State’s ranking among Nigerian states dropped significantly to 28th in terms of funding for education.
Further findings by the Guide Newspaper revealed that state’s budgetary provision for the education sector remains below the UNESCO recommended benchmark for education funding.
The Guide Newspaper reports that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO recommends that countries or governments allocate between 15% and 20% of their total public expenditure to education. Recent reports even cite a higher benchmark of 26% for developing countries like Nigeria and it’s federating units.
Our correspondent reports that while the state government has undertaken significant efforts in the education sector, such as the construction of model primary schools, the overall percentage of the budget dedicated to education is below the international benchmark.
Investigations conducted around government owned schools in Akwa Ibom State revealed that majority of government owned schools the state operate class size of over 100 students to a teacher which violates UNESCO’s standard that recommends teacher students’ ratio of 1: 36.
Recent study on barriers to humans capital development in the education sector of Akwa Ibom State conducted by Anietie Udoh, Chigozie Nwagu, Mfonobong Asuquo and Victor Ben, published in World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews reveals that many government owned secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State are poorly funded.
According to the research, “the inadequate funding therefore lead to lack of modern technology in classrooms which limits teachers’ ability to incorporate innovative teaching methods, as well as inadequate infrastructure which equally contributes to disparity in educational attainment between different socioeconomic groups in the state.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Ifon, the president, National Association of Seadogs, Atlantic Shores Deck, Eket, Akwa Ibom, has decried the number of out-of-school children in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Ifon, who spoke recently during the commemoration of the 2025 International Literacy Day (ILD) in Eket urged Gov. Umo Eno to take steps towards reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.
According to him, “Illiteracy is one of the greatest barriers to empowerment and community development. This is worsened by the economic hardship in the country,” he said.
He added that UNICEF recently reported that no fewer than 10.2 million school-aged children were out of school.
“UNESCO estimates that the figure is over 18.3 million when adolescents are included. Available statistics indicate that more children live on the streets and in overcrowded homes. “This development leaves many children in vulnerable states, meaning that they can be exploited and abused,” he added.
