Political Leadership and the Development of Education Programme in Nigeria: Lessons for African Nations

Abstract

This paper examined the implications of political leadership on the development of education programmes in Nigeria and lessons for African nations.. The political environment has a strong influence on educational policy planning and implementation in any nation . Successive governments, both during the military and civilian regimes, tend to pursue educational programmes in line with their respective ideologies and priorities. Funding of education programmes was not only found to be inadequate, it was also based on the priority of the ruling government. In addition, by the 1990s many African countries degenerated into severe political instability most in the form of open conflicts. This has compounded the problems of expenditure underspending during the later 1980s and thus resulting in policy somersaults. In order to reduce the level of illiteracy in Nigeria and also achieve the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) of achieving education for all by 2015, Nigeria and indeed all African nation's need a political leadership that is focused and vigorously pursuing the development of education programmes that will stand the test of time and move their respective nations forward technologically.