NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIC PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Abstract

Nigeria’s foreign policy has increasingly incorporated tertiary education as a strategic tool for promoting international cooperation, human capital development, and global competitiveness. Through initiatives such as bilateral education agreements, academic exchange programmes, and partnerships with international organizations, the country seeks to strengthen the quality and relevance of its higher education system. Despite these efforts, the effective implementation of these policies has been constrained by numerous challenges, including inadequate and unstable funding, policy inconsistency, administrative inefficiencies, weak institutional capacity, brain drain, and poor monitoring mechanisms. The chapter identifies critical gaps in policy execution and highlights the disconnect between foreign educational programmes and national development priorities. The findings reveal that while international collaborations offer significant opportunities for capacity building and knowledge transfer, their impact remains limited due to systemic and structural weaknesses. The study concludes that a more coordinated, transparent, and sustainable policy framework is required to maximize the benefits of foreign engagements in education. It recommends policy consistency, strategic alignment with national needs, diversified funding mechanisms, and strengthened institutional capacity as key pathways for improving outcomes. Ultimately, the paper emphasizes that effective integration of foreign policy and tertiary education is essential for advancing Nigeria’s long-term socio-economic development.