Religious Violence, Corruption Driving Nigeria’s Education System To Collapse – Inwang

Nigeria is grappling with a deepening crises of religious violence and political failure that were threatening national stability and the future of its education sector.

This assessment was made by Inwang Ubong Marshal, Senior Data Processing Officer I, who warned that persistent insecurity, weak governance and elite manipulation were pushing the country toward systemic collapse, particularly in education.

Across several regions, civilians—especially Christians, alongside Muslims and others—continued to be killed in ongoing conflicts. While the violence is often framed in religious terms, analysts argued it is not a war between ordinary Christians and Muslims, many of whom reject extremism and are themselves victims. Rather, the root causes lie in political exploitation of religion, corruption and the state’s failure to ensure equal protection and justice.

Perpetrators of attacks are rarely held accountable, deepening public anger and a sense of abandonment among affected communities. This has fuelled claims of persecution and genocide, particularly among Christian groups who feel systematically unprotected. Experts, however, insisted the core problem remains selective security enforcement and elite-driven politics that weaponise insecurity for power and control.

These governance failures, observers warned, were also accelerating the collapse of Nigeria’s education sector. Inwang described the situation as “a national emergency unfolding in slow motion.”

“Nigeria’s education crisis is not just about funding; it is about deep-seated corruption that drains the system of credibility and capacity,” he said.

He lamented that funds meant for classrooms, hostels, research facilities and campus security were routinely diverted, leaving institutions unable to meet basic academic standards.

“Money meant for classrooms, hostels and safety disappears into private pockets. We see abandoned projects, contractors paid without scrutiny, and schools forced to function without the tools needed to teach or protect students,” he stated.

According to him, these failures have exposed campuses to crime, cultism and external violence, while criminal networks and armed groups increasingly operate within communities, allegedly shielded by political interests.

“When dangerous groups can influence school environments, it shows the rule of law has collapsed. Students cannot learn in fear. Teachers cannot work under threat,” Inwang said.

He warned that the crisis continued after graduation, as thousands of young Nigerians enter a labour market with limited opportunities.

“We produce graduates, but not jobs. Education only has value when there is a clear path to employment,” he said, citing the absence of strong industries, manufacturing hubs and structured transition programmes.

Inwang cautioned that mass youth unemployment has created fertile ground for crime, political violence, trafficking and other social vices.

He called for urgent reforms, urging governments to prosecute officials who divert education funds, dismantle political networks protecting violent groups, and invest in industries capable of absorbing young graduates.

“Education cannot exist in isolation. It must connect to security, governance and economic development. We must rebuild trust and create real pathways for our youth,” he added.