Comparative Education Systems and the Transfer of Educational Innovation to Nigeria: Theory, Evidence, and Practice

This study develops an original theoretical framework for the transfer of educational innovations from global to Nigerian contexts, grounding it in comparative education theory and testing it through empirical analysis of five major education innovation transfers attempted in Nigeria since 2000. Educational borrowing and lending is a central dynamic of global education policy, with international organisations, development banks, and bilateral donors promoting innovations developed in other country contexts. However, many such transfers have produced disappointing results in Nigeria, suggesting that the mechanisms and conditions for successful contextual adaptation are inadequately understood. This study employs a multiple-case comparative design, examining the transfer and adaptation of five innovations: the literacy boost programme, outcome-based education, school-based management, computer-assisted learning, and girls' conditional cash transfer programmes. Each case is analysed through document review, key informant interviews (80 total), and outcome data analysis. An original Educational Innovation Transfer Framework is developed specifying contextual fitness assessment, stakeholder alignment, institutional capacity, and adaptive implementation as preconditions for successful transfer. Cross-case analysis identifies patterns of transfer success and failure. Results reveal that context fitness assessment and adaptive implementation are the most consistently absent elements in failed transfers, while strong domestic champion networks are the most reliable success predictor. The study concludes that educational innovation transfer requires a structured contextualisation process before and during implementation. It recommends that the Federal Ministry of Education establish an Innovation Contextualisation Unit to manage all future international education programme introductions.

Keywords: comparative education, innovation transfer, educational borrowing, Nigeria, contextual adaptation.