Author(s) :

JIMOH Olalekan Idowu, ADEJOBI Adeolu Oluwaseun.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Education remains a cornerstone of national development, serving as the foundation for human capital formation, innovation, and sustainable growth. In Nigeria, however, despite numerous education policies and reforms, the sector continues to face systemic challenges that hinder its contribution to national development. This study critically examines education as a driver of national development in Nigeria, with a focus on rethinking human capital development and policy implementation. The key research problem lies in the persistent gap between educational policy formulation and practical implementation, which has led to poor learning outcomes, skill mismatches, and limited economic productivity. Guided by the Human Capital Theory and the Modernisation Theory, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining secondary data analysis from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), UNICEF and UNESCO reports with qualitative insights from policy documents and stakeholder discussions. Findings reveal that inadequate funding, policy inconsistency, poor governance, and weak monitoring frameworks remain major barriers to effective education-driven development. The study argues that Nigeria’s education system must be repositioned through evidence-based reforms, improved teacher capacity, and alignment with labour market demands. The paper concludes by proposing the strengthening of institutional mechanisms for policy implementation, enhanced public-private partnerships, and digital innovation in learning as crucial steps toward transforming education into a powerful driver of national development. Keywords: Education, Human Capital, Policy Implementation, National Development, Nigeria, Governance.

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