Education Crisis in Nigeria: Boko Haram’s Impact on Schools

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Boko Haram's Impact on Education

The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation school in Borno state, Nigeria, which provides free education to children affected by the Boko Haram conflict, has been forced to cut student enrollment and staff due to a loss of U.S. funding (africanews.com). This decision has had a profound impact on the lives of many young people, including Israel Peter, who, at six years old, fled his village due to Boko Haram attacks and has not been able to return to school since (africanews.com). His dream of becoming an engineer now seems distant, as his family cannot afford school fees (africanews.com).

The school has had to let go of 700 of its 2,200 students and 20 teachers, with no new enrollment and further cuts likely (africanews.com). This reduction in capacity is a direct consequence of the abrupt loss of U.S. funding, as the Trump administration dismantled USAID (africanews.com). USAID had disbursed $1.5 billion to Nigeria between 2023 and 2024, funding a range of projects from healthcare to education and social welfare (africanews.com).

Understanding Boko Haram

Boko Haram, whose name translates to "Western education is forbidden," is an Islamist extremist group that originated in northeastern Nigeria in the early 2000s (bbc.com). Initially a religious movement opposed to Western education, it evolved into a militant organization in 2009 with the political aim of establishing an Islamic state (bbc.com). This group has caused widespread devastation across Nigeria and neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger through its violent operations (bbc.com).

The Boko Haram conflict has had a devastating impact on education and the lives of children in northeastern Nigeria. Over 35,000 people have been killed and 2.6 million others displaced in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad due to the conflict (africanews.com). Boko Haram has burned down thousands of educational establishments (csmonitor.com). According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), some three million children in the northeast are unable to go to school (theirworld.org).

USAID Funding Cuts

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the primary U.S. government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance (npr.org). It supports humanitarian and development projects in over 120 countries, focusing on preventing disease, eliminating poverty, and promoting global health, education, and governance (npr.org). The Trump administration initiated a freeze on all U.S. foreign aid and moved to dissolve USAID, significantly cutting its programs (kff.org).

The specific reasons cited for the Trump administration's cuts to USAID and foreign aid generally revolved around an "America First" policy, prioritizing domestic spending and reducing foreign commitments (kff.org). While the administration moved to dissolve USAID, it did retain approximately 500 grants (npr.org). Aid groups and advocates have raised alarms that cuts to USAID's programs would lead to loss of life, particularly in humanitarian crisis zones (npr.org). Oxfam staff, in collaboration with supporters and civil society organizations, have met with Congressional and State Department staff to advocate for humanitarian assistance funds (oxfamamerica.org).

Future Prowess Islamic Foundation

The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation school plays a crucial role in providing education and healing for children affected by the conflict, including those from all sides (africanews.com). The school, founded in 2007 by Zannah Mustapha, initially provided education to orphans and expanded its mission to support children affected by the conflict (africanews.com, devex.com). It accepts children of Boko Haram fighters, children whose parents were killed by fighters, children of security forces, and children of traditional and religious leaders (devex.com, csmonitor.com).

The school has benefited 3,000 children in Borno state and has been credited with giving thousands of children a chance to achieve their dreams (africanews.com). Zannah Mustapha started the school before the insurgency began, initially to educate children whose parents died of natural causes (cnn.com). The school's curriculum balances religious education with secular subjects, aiming to provide a holistic learning environment that counters the extremist ideology of Boko Haram. This approach helps to foster peace and reconciliation within the community, offering a path forward for children from diverse backgrounds.

Vulnerability to Extremist Recruitment

The withdrawal of funding and the lack of educational opportunities raise concerns about children's vulnerability to recruitment by extremist groups (africanews.com). School officials and aid groups worry that children they can no longer support might end up being welcomed by extremists (africanews.com). Zannah Mustapha fears that children without educational opportunities "are only going to go back to the hinterland to start fighting" (africanews.com).

Analysts, like Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa, state that the situation "can only play into the hands of jihadists, known to exploit issues like this to their advantage" (africanews.com). Some of the children who applied to study at the school are former Boko Haram members who defected and renounced violence (africanews.com). The school's ability to integrate these children and provide them with an alternative path is critical for regional stability.

Challenges in Nigerian Education

Nigeria faces significant challenges in providing education, with a high number of out-of-school children and insufficient government funding (africanews.com). Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, over 10 million, according to UNICEF (africanews.com). Nigeria's government funds education at between 4% and 7% of its federal budget, falling short of the 15% to 20% global benchmark recommended by UNESCO (africanews.com).

Although primary education is officially free in Nigeria, parents in most states still pay fees for maintenance and other expenses, ranging from 5,000 naira ($3.27) to 15,000 naira ($9.80) (africanews.com). This amount can be a month's earnings for many families (africanews.com). The impact of under-funding is far worse in the northeast, where conflict has ruined key infrastructure and families are preoccupied with survival (africanews.com).

Long-Term Sustainability Efforts

The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation is also working on long-term sustainability and economic support for the community (globalcitizen.org). Zannah Mustapha has a 10-year plan to ensure more children in northern Nigeria receive an education and have a chance at a better life (globalcitizen.org). This vision extends beyond simply providing schooling to building a more resilient community.

The school has 15 hectares of land with over 1,000 different tree species. It is engaged in agriculture, including a large fish farm, to generate economic support with the help of parents and widows (globalcitizen.org). These initiatives aim to establish a self-sustaining model that can withstand fluctuations in external funding and provide economic opportunities for the families involved. The school also provides psychological support, recognizing the trauma many children have experienced due to the conflict. This holistic approach addresses both educational and emotional needs, fostering healing and resilience.

Nigeria’s Education Funding vs. UNESCO Benchmark

Nigeria federal education allocation (share of budget)
7%
Target range: 15–20% of total government spending

0%
10%
15%
20%
30%

Nigeria
UNESCO recommended band (15–20%)

Nigeria allocates 7% of its federal budget to education, well below the UNESCO benchmark of 15–20%.
Source: africanews.com

The Human Cost of Funding Cuts

The impact of these funding cuts is deeply personal for families in northeastern Nigeria. Ramatu Usman, a student who was dropped by the school just one session before her high school exams, had dreams of studying medicine (africanews.com). Now, she spends her days knitting caps for sale, a stark contrast to her academic aspirations (africanews.com). Her mother, Hajara Musa, expresses profound despair, crying daily for her daughter and struggling to find funds for her to return to school (africanews.com).

The story of Yusuf Mustapha, a graduate of the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation school, offers a glimpse into the transformative power of education in this region. Boko Haram killed his parents, yet he is now a final-year computer science student at a university in Nigeria’s southwest (africanews.com). He acknowledges that without the school, his life would have been vastly different, as he had no one to sponsor his education or even provide food (africanews.com). These individual stories highlight the critical importance of sustained support for educational initiatives in conflict-affected areas.

Out-of-School Children in Nigeria

10+ Million
Children in Nigeria are out of school, the highest number globally.

This visualization highlights the staggering number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Source: africanews.com (UNICEF data)

The Broader Educational Landscape

The challenges faced by the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation are indicative of the broader educational crisis in northeastern Nigeria. The region's educational infrastructure has been severely damaged by years of conflict, making access to schooling even more difficult (africanews.com). Families are often preoccupied with survival, and the cost of education, even if minimal, can be prohibitive (africanews.com).

The Nigerian government's role in supporting education in the region, beyond general funding statistics, is a critical area for further examination. While primary education is technically free, the additional fees for maintenance and other needs place a significant burden on impoverished families (africanews.com). This situation underscores the need for comprehensive and sustained interventions to ensure that all children, especially those affected by conflict, have access to quality education.

Boko Haram Conflict: Key Impacts

35,000+
People killed in the conflict across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

2.6 Million
People displaced due to the conflict in the region.

Thousands
Educational establishments burned down by Boko Haram.

3 Million
Children in northeastern Nigeria unable to attend school.

This visualization summarizes the devastating human and educational impact of the Boko Haram conflict. Source: africanews.com, csmonitor.com, theirworld.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.