Nigeria’s educational system has been described as a deceit that falls short of international best practices, with concerns that it is producing graduates who are unable to compete favourably with their counterparts in developed countries.
An Ibadan-based educationist, Mr. Olasoji Faloyo, made the assertion in a viral video circulating online, where he criticised both the secondary and tertiary education systems, saying they have failed to adequately prepare students for higher learning and the demands of the labour market.
Faloyo maintained that the nation’s educational system has continued to witness a steady decline in quality, alleging that many schools now place greater emphasis on certificates than on the acquisition of knowledge, skills and character.
Nigeria's Educational System A Deceit – Faloyo pic.twitter.com/XpufIppU1n
— News Arena NG (@newsarena_ng) August 10, 2026
He alleged that widespread corruption, including bribery and the persistent “sex-for-marks” syndrome in tertiary institutions, has continued to erode the credibility of higher education in the country.
The educationist also expressed concern over the alarming rate of examination malpractice in secondary schools and higher institutions, describing the trend as a major threat to the future of education and national development.
According to him, students who engage in examination malpractice at the secondary school level often carry the same culture into tertiary institutions, thereby weakening the integrity of the entire educational system.
“85% of students in higher institutions cheated to pass their O’level results.”
Faloyo blamed the Federal Government for failing to appoint capable individuals who could effectively drive meaningful reforms and reposition the education sector.
While expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s education reform agenda, he said the administration requires competent professionals who can translate the President’s vision into practical and measurable achievements.
He argued that many of Nigeria’s social and economic challenges are rooted in the poor quality of education and the widespread culture of examination malpractice across secondary and tertiary institutions.
Faloyo noted that at least half of the country’s problems could be addressed if government, school authorities, parents and other stakeholders jointly tackle examination malpractice and restore discipline to the education system.
He further described the poor state of education in Nigeria and across Africa as part of a conspiracy that has kept the continent underdeveloped and unable to maximise its human capital potential.
The educationist attributed the poor performance of many Nigerian graduates in the labour market to inadequate knowledge acquisition, weak technical and vocational training, and poor discipline throughout their educational journey.
He stressed that genuine educational reform should focus not only on building schools and infrastructure but also on strengthening teaching quality, developing students’ capacities from the secondary school level, and producing competent, innovative and globally competitive graduates.
