Nigeria’s worsening cost-of-living crisis is increasingly shaping where families believe their children can access decent education. A new SBM Intelligence report found that affordability, not prestige, is becoming the defining factor in school quality perceptions across surveyed states.
The report, which surveyed residents across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory, found that families rated Kano, Abuja and Rivers highest for schools considered “realistically affordable”, while Lagos underperformed despite its reputation as Nigeria’s education hub because many quality schools remain beyond the reach of average households.
The findings come as inflation, rising housing costs, transport expenses and broader economic pressures continue to squeeze household budgets, forcing parents to prioritise affordability and proximity over elite education options.
Gift Osikoya, a teacher, affirmed that the rising cost of living in Nigeria is greatly affecting children’s access to quality education.
“Many parents today are struggling to survive financially, so affordability has become their major concern when choosing schools. In many cases, parents are not intentionally rejecting quality education; they are simply trying to balance quality with what they can afford.
