S U M M A RY
EduFinance School Leadership Academy UNLOCKING SCHOOL VALUE IN SCHOOL FINANCE IN NIGERIA
Nigeria's affordable private school sector continues to expand, creating a significant opportunity for financial institutions to increase education lending. Drawing on evidence from 43 School Leadership Academy workshops conducted across 20 states between 2023 and 2026, this report examines the profile of affordable private schools, their financing needs, barriers to credit, and implications for financial institutions.
Key Findings Growing market opportunity
51 %
50%
71 %
98 %
GROWTH IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS
OF BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS
OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS
OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS
between 2019–2025
are private
are private
are affordable
Affordable education finance opportunity
Affordable private schools dominate the sample
P OT E N T IA L M A R K E T S IZ E
NGN 71.9B
98%
(104,350 private schools out of 107,017 are affordable
of participating schools are affordable
schools vary in size and age, and need differentiated lending products
Schools demonstrate readiness to engage with formal finance
99%
40%
22%
34%
Maintain bookkeeping records
collect fees through bank deposits
collect fees digitally
have a bank account*
*this represents an opportunity to strengthen financial inclusion