Generative AI in Nigerian Education: A New Layer in the Struggle for Equity
Nigeria’s educational landscape is marked by a profound struggle for equity, characterized by one of the world’s deepest learning crises. With an estimated 18.3 million children out of school in 2024, the highest global figure, the nation faces immense challenges. Even for those within the system, conditions are dire, particularly in rural areas where a single teacher often manages over 100 pupils. It is into this complex and resource-scarce environment that Generative AI is now beginning to emerge, adding a new dimension to the quest for educational solutions.
Navigating Scarcity: Education Funding and the Emergence of AI
Despite a significant boost in the 2024 education budget to ₦1.59 trillion, accounting for approximately 5.5% of total government expenditure, a substantial portion is allocated to salaries. This leaves critically limited funds for essential infrastructure development and much-needed systemic reforms. Education experts frequently highlight that this spending, while increased, remains considerably below international benchmarks and is insufficient to tackle the vast scale of the learning crisis. Amidst these deeply entrenched structural gaps and financial constraints, a new technological layer is being introduced. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, alongside burgeoning African-built edtech platforms, are gradually finding their way into Nigerian classrooms and student study routines, posing new questions about equitable access and implementation.
The advent of Generative AI in Nigerian education presents a dual challenge and opportunity. While these advanced tools offer immense potential to personalize learning, support overworked teachers, and bridge knowledge gaps, their equitable integration is far from guaranteed. Without simultaneously addressing the foundational issues of limited infrastructure, teacher training, and universal access to technology and connectivity, Generative AI risks exacerbating existing inequalities, further sidelining the very children who need educational support the most. The imperative is to harness AI’s power thoughtfully, ensuring it serves as a catalyst for genuine equity and widespread educational improvement, rather than another layer in the struggle for accessible learning.
Keywords
Related Keywords: Generative AI Nigerian education, AI equity Nigeria schools, digital divide AI Nigeria, access to AI Nigerian students, equitable AI education Nigeria, Generative AI challenges Nigeria, Nigerian education AI policy, AI tools for learning Nigeria, bridging AI gap Nigeria, social justice AI education Nigeria
