Education has been universally acknowledged as a potent and dynamic instrument for national
development and social transformation. It is an important instrument for the development of the
individual and the society as it is a weapon against poverty, illiteracy, and disease. In Nigeria, the
importance of education in the development of the individual and the nation is highly recognized.
Education according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is a fundamental human right and
the key factor to promoting sustainable development. Education as seen by Erese (1983) is “a birth
right and not a privilege of every citizen of any country”. The Nigerian National Policy on Education
(2004) defines education as that process that helps to develop the whole being, physically, mentally,
morally, politically, socially and technologically to enable individuals function in any environment in
which they may find themselves. As a process, education involves the development of the individual
at various levels of educational institutions. The policy added that access to education and training is
not only basic human right but also a key factor for social progress and in reducing the gap between
socio-economic groups and sexes. The policy also made provision for equal access to educational
opportunities for all citizens at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.