ducation has become a casualty of war in Nigeria's conflict-ridden northern region. Since 2009, Boko Haram, a jihadist group, has waged a relentless campaign against schools, teachers, and students—determined to eradicate Western education and impose its rigid interpretation of Islam.
Their actions have been devastating. Boko Haram has been linked to the deaths of more than 38,255 people in Nigeria since 2011, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) which monitors political violence in the country. Furthermore, the UN reported in June that Boko Haram affiliated groups and splinter factions, including Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), had abducted at least 211 children and recruited 63 children between January and December of 2021. Another United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) press release confirms that there have been 2,295 teachers killed in attacks between 2009 and 2022, more than 19,000 teachers displaced, more than 1,500 schools closed for safety reasons, and 910 schools destroyed.
Boko Haram's ideology is deeply rooted in anti-western sentiment and anti-education. Education is seen as a corrupting influence—a tool for western imperialism that undermines Islamic values. They hold the belief that true knowledge comes solely from the Quran, and secular education is a deviation from the path of righteousness. Their attacks on education have not been indiscriminate. There has been a ferocious effort to suppress female empowerment and reinforce their patriarchal worldview by targeting girls' schools. The abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014, an act that shocked the world, became a stark symbol of Boko Haram’s ruthless disregard for girls' education.
The impact of Boko Haram's attack on education has been profound and far-reaching. It has robbed children of their fundamental right to learn, disrupted communities, and further stunts the development of an entire generation. The psychological trauma of witnessing violence and fearing for their lives has left many children with lasting emotional scars.
The future of one of the largest states in the south is at stake. There has never been a better time for the Nigerian diaspora and international community to strengthen its efforts to support education in Nigeria. Government allies and private donors should channel more funding toward school reconstruction, teacher training, and psychosocial support for students. Additionally, it is beyond time that the Nigerian authorities step up to counter this attack on education. Nigeria’s government has the obligation to protect all children and detail their rehabilitation strategies for the education sector. The key focus areas should include strengthening school security, investigating and prosecuting attacks on education, addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, and improving school facilities and curricula.
What has happened to "the Giant of Africa?" How has it become so crippled? A decaying education system is at the root of the problem. The fight to protect education in Nigeria is not simply about rebuilding schools and restoring access to learning; it is about safeguarding the future of a generation and the very foundations of freedom, democracy, and sustainable human development in Africa. This is critical as the world is on the verge of a major technological shift, and education is undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle, if not the key, to unlocking Nigeria's immense potential.
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Boko Haram's Assault on Education in Northern Nigeria
Abuja is the capital of Nigeria, and has been the site of attacks by Boko Haram. Photo by Ovinuchi Ejiohuo on Unsplash
December 19, 2023
Education is under assault in the north of Nigeria, where jihadist group Boko Haram is waging a campaign against Western styles of education. The impact of this assault is profound, putting Nigeria’s very future at risk, writes Jenny Kingsley.
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ducation has become a casualty of war in Nigeria's conflict-ridden northern region. Since 2009, Boko Haram, a jihadist group, has waged a relentless campaign against schools, teachers, and students—determined to eradicate Western education and impose its rigid interpretation of Islam.
Their actions have been devastating. Boko Haram has been linked to the deaths of more than 38,255 people in Nigeria since 2011, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) which monitors political violence in the country. Furthermore, the UN reported in June that Boko Haram affiliated groups and splinter factions, including Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), had abducted at least 211 children and recruited 63 children between January and December of 2021. Another United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) press release confirms that there have been 2,295 teachers killed in attacks between 2009 and 2022, more than 19,000 teachers displaced, more than 1,500 schools closed for safety reasons, and 910 schools destroyed.
Boko Haram's ideology is deeply rooted in anti-western sentiment and anti-education. Education is seen as a corrupting influence—a tool for western imperialism that undermines Islamic values. They hold the belief that true knowledge comes solely from the Quran, and secular education is a deviation from the path of righteousness. Their attacks on education have not been indiscriminate. There has been a ferocious effort to suppress female empowerment and reinforce their patriarchal worldview by targeting girls' schools. The abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014, an act that shocked the world, became a stark symbol of Boko Haram’s ruthless disregard for girls' education.
The impact of Boko Haram's attack on education has been profound and far-reaching. It has robbed children of their fundamental right to learn, disrupted communities, and further stunts the development of an entire generation. The psychological trauma of witnessing violence and fearing for their lives has left many children with lasting emotional scars.
The future of one of the largest states in the south is at stake. There has never been a better time for the Nigerian diaspora and international community to strengthen its efforts to support education in Nigeria. Government allies and private donors should channel more funding toward school reconstruction, teacher training, and psychosocial support for students. Additionally, it is beyond time that the Nigerian authorities step up to counter this attack on education. Nigeria’s government has the obligation to protect all children and detail their rehabilitation strategies for the education sector. The key focus areas should include strengthening school security, investigating and prosecuting attacks on education, addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, and improving school facilities and curricula.
What has happened to "the Giant of Africa?" How has it become so crippled? A decaying education system is at the root of the problem. The fight to protect education in Nigeria is not simply about rebuilding schools and restoring access to learning; it is about safeguarding the future of a generation and the very foundations of freedom, democracy, and sustainable human development in Africa. This is critical as the world is on the verge of a major technological shift, and education is undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle, if not the key, to unlocking Nigeria's immense potential.
