In a promising development for Nigeria's education sector, several states have demonstrated exceptional commitment to investing in learning by allocating significant portions of their budgets to education.

Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Jigawa, Abia, and Taraba have emerged as top performers in recent budget analyses, with allocations that align with or approach international benchmarks set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO recommends that governments allocate 15% to 20% of their total public expenditure to education, while developing countries are often advised to target 4% to 6% of GDP.

Advocacy groups, including Nigeria's National Policy on Education, push for even higher targets, such as 26% of national or state budgets.

Recent reports highlight these states' strong performance, particularly in the 2025 and proposed 2026 budgets, where education has been prioritized as a key driver of development, human capital growth, and addressing challenges like out-of-school children.

Anambra stands out with one of the highest percentages, allocating up to 46.9% of its proposed 2026 budget (N757 billion total) to education far exceeding global standards.

The state has consistently boosted investments in smart schools, teacher welfare, and infrastructure.

Enugu has maintained a robust focus, dedicating around 32-33% of its budget in recent years (e.g., N522 billion out of N1.62 trillion in 2026 proposals). This consistent prioritization has positioned it as a leader in the Southeast.

Kano, facing high numbers of out-of-school children, allocated approximately 30-31% (e.g., N405.3 billion out of N1.368 trillion in recent proposals), viewing education as a critical tool against poverty and insecurity.

Jigawa committed around 26% (e.g., N234.48 billion out of N901.84 billion), emphasizing basic and secondary education to improve enrollment and retention.

Abia and Taraba both reached about 20% in recent allocations (e.g., N203.2 billion out of N1.016 trillion for Abia, and N131.6 billion out of N650 billion for Taraba), meeting the World Bank's minimum benchmark and showing strong regional commitment.

These figures by DAILY South Nigeria come from analyses of state appropriation bills presented to Houses of Assembly.

While these states shine, Nigeria's overall education funding remains below recommended levels.

The federal government's 2025 allocation was around 7-9% of the national budget, prompting calls for greater investment. Many other states fall short of the 15% UNESCO threshold, highlighting disparities across the federation.

Experts note that high allocations alone are not enough effective implementation, transparency, teacher training, infrastructure upgrades, and targeted support for vulnerable groups are essential for real impact.

These leading states serve as models, proving that prioritizing education can yield long-term benefits in reducing inequality, boosting economic growth, and building a skilled workforce.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with its learning crisis, such commitments offer hope and a blueprint for others to follow.