BusinessDay
The Editorial Board
June 8, 2026
For every nation that aspires to economic prosperity, social stability, and global competitiveness, investment in education remains the most reliable pathway to progress. Yet, in Nigeria today, quality education is gradually becoming a luxury that only a privileged few can afford. The disturbing reality emerging across the nation is that the future of many Nigerian children is increasingly being determined not by their talent or ambition, but by their parents’ ability to cope with rising living costs.
The recent report by SBM Intelligence, which examined quality-of-life indicators across several states, paints a troubling picture. The study found that affordability, rather than educational excellence, has become the dominant factor influencing parents’ choice of schools. In simple terms, many families are no longer asking, “Which school offers the best education?” Instead, they are asking, “Which school can we afford?”
