# The audacity of Enugu’s education transformation > Enugu State builds 260 Smart Green Schools to transform education for Nigeria’s youth. - Title: The audacity of Enugu’s education transformation | Shortify - Summary: 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… - Keywords: enugu state, smart green schools, education policy, nigerian youth, knowledge economy, budget allocation, teacher development, experiential learning, news, politics, audacity, Enugu - Source: Premium Times Nigeria — https://premiumtimesng.com/promoted/915763-the-audacity-of-enugus-education-transformation-by-peter-mbah.html - Author: Press Release - Published: 2026-10-09T21:56:44+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: enugu state, smart green schools, education policy, nigerian youth, knowledge economy, budget allocation, teacher development, experiential learning, news, politics ## 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 ## Key takeaway 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.