Education is the systematic process of sharing knowledge, especially in a school. The various stages of education lead to the ultimate goal of equipping people with the knowledge and skill to achieve their potential and actualise their goals- personally and professionally.

Education serves various purposes, including passing on history, providing vocational training, and aiding language and cultural exchanges. It also offers vital info about health and general well-being.

Education is one of the main drivers and indicators of societal development. It has been recognised as a priority not just at a national level but also at the international level with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 to work towards inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

According to UNICEF, one in every five out-of-school children in the world is Nigerian, often due to economic barriers and socio-cultural practices where girls are disproportionately affected. An education gap remains, leaving people from rural areas and low-income households more disadvantaged.

A benefit of education is that it puts one in a better position to access opportunities to help them overcome socio-economic vulnerabilities. It also helps to boost upward social mobility. Therefore, marginalised people become more marginalised and worse off without education.

The impact of education may be hard to notice because it is difficult to measure or quantify. After all, life goes on even in communities without formal education.

However, studies have shown that education is vital to economic and social development. In addition to reducing harm from unhealthy practices, it births future leaders in governance, science and technology, entrepreneurship, and other fields. These people contribute to a thriving economy and a stable society.

Education minimises the risks of adolescents giving in to societal ills and creates a conducive environment for discourse and people skills development. It equips people with the knowledge and skills they need to add value to the world around them, provides a sense of community among peers, and ensures the well-being of the people by keeping them informed. These elements are difficult to measure or qualify. Thus, education is an invaluable resource, and we see its impact in daily life even though we may not realise it.

From basic sciences that help us understand the world around us and equip us with information to ensure good health and hygiene to civic education that informs us on our rights and responsibilities. Education enables continuity in society by preparing people to play their part in the present and future.

Thus, we must work towards spreading quality education and ensure decisive action to bridge the education gap. For impact, more education projects ought to target those who have been marginalised and left behind in the process. For a sustainable solution, we need to design policies that address the lapses in our education system and implement programmes to ensure inclusive education is distributed proportionately across the country.

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