Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Only one in five Nigerian pupils enrolled in primary school progresses to junior secondary education, according to new data presented by the Federal Government, highlighting a significant transition gap that authorities attribute largely to poverty and weak social protection systems.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the figures on Wednesday at the 2026 Annual Education Summit organised by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja.
Alausa said Nigeria has nearly 25 million pupils enrolled in primary schools, but only just over five million in junior secondary schools, raising concerns about millions of children who leave the formal education system before completing basic education.
“We don’t make reforms based on assumptions. We make them based on data,” the minister said.
He said the figures underscore the need for evidence-based reforms to improve school retention and access to education.
Alausa said the enrolment statistics also informed the Federal Government’s review of the structure separating junior and senior secondary schools.
Nigeria currently has about 90,000 primary schools but only 16,000 junior secondary schools, a disparity he said has resulted in overcrowded junior secondary schools while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised.
He stressed that future education reforms would continue to be guided by reliable data to improve access, equity and learning outcomes.
Earlier, ECAN Chairman, Mr. Chuks Ukuwatu said the maiden summit was organised to evaluate the achievements, reforms and challenges of Nigeria’s education sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Korede Abdullah 