From Premium Times Nigeria · Press Release · · 2m
The audacity of Enugu’s education transformation
Enugu State builds 260 Smart Green Schools to transform education for Nigeria’s youth.
In brief
Enugu State builds 260 Smart Green Schools to transform education for Nigeria’s youth. Enugu State committed one-third of its budget to education, building 260 Smart Green Schools across all wards to prepare young Nigerians for a knowledge-based economy. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
The audacity of Enugu’s education transformation
Enugu State’s education policy aims to prepare young Nigerians for a knowledge-based economy through transformative learning.
“Our future prosperity depends upon the knowledge and capabilities of our people”
Nigeria’s youth demographic
Nigeria has nearly two-thirds of its population under 30, creating both a demographic dividend and potential catastrophe.
“Nigeria is one of the youngest countries in the world. Almost two-thirds of our population is under 30”
Learning crisis in Nigeria
UNICEF reports pupils are merely going through motions without imbibing knowledge in basic subjects.
“The report shows that pupils are, more or less, merely going through the motions of learning, without actually imbibing any knowledge”
Education transformation plan
Enugu State committed to building 260 Smart Green Schools, one in every ward, with over 7,000 classrooms constructed.
“We committed ourselves to building 260 Smart Green Schools, one in every ward of enugu state”
Shift from rote learning
Enugu State moved from rote learning to experiential learning, critical thinking, and digital capability.
“We moved from rote learning towards experiential learning; from memorising the answer towards understanding the problem”
Budget commitment
For three successive budget cycles, approximately one-third of Enugu State’s budget has been allocated to education.
“For three successive budget cycles, approximately one-third of our state budget has gone to education”
Non-tax revenue growth
Enugu State’s internally-generated revenue grew from N27 billion in 2022 to N400 billion in 2025, with 87.4% from non-tax revenue.
“In 2022, before our administration came into office, enugu state generated approximately n27 billion internally. In 2025, our internally generated revenue exceeded n400 billion”
Teacher development focus
Enugu State prioritizes teacher development, continuous professional learning, and the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation.
“The work of the centre for experiential learning and innovation are so important to us”
Smart Green School success
A student from Owo, Enugu State, built websites and taught peers digital skills in two years.
“He was standing in front of boys from schools in the city, encouraging them as much as teaching them”
Education as national emergency
Enugu State argues education must be treated as a national emergency to build a knowledge economy.
“I believe nigeria has reached the point where we must treat education as a national emergency”
Long-term investment
Enugu State’s education investments will yield results 20 years after the governor’s term ends.
“Some of the three-year-oldsh entering our schools today will not reach the height of their productive lives for another 20 years”
Audacity as necessity
Enugu State’s education transformation is a necessity, not a luxury, for Nigeria’s future prosperity.
“But audacity does not mean acting recklessly. Sometimes it means having the courage to recognise what is necessary, and then acting at the scale that necessity demands”
Demographic dividend
Nigeria’s youth population could become the greatest engine of growth if education is transformed.
“This generation could become the greatest engine of growth, creativity and productivity nigeria has ever known”
Sustainable development
Enugu State links education with infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development for sustainable growth.
“We have been building 260 type 2 primary healthcare centres across the same 260 wards”
Funding model
Enugu State’s education funding combines tax revenue (12.6%) and non-tax revenue (87.4%) from asset monetization.
“Tax revenue accounted for n51.5bn or 12.6 per cent, n355.2bn or 87.4 per cent of the total sum came from non tax revenue”
What happens next
Enugu State’s education model could become a national template for Nigeria’s knowledge economy transformation.
“Once we make it, audacity becomes necessity”
What matters most
Enugu State committed one-third of its budget to education, building 260 Smart Green Schools across all wards to prepare young Nigerians for a knowledge-based economy.
