Formal education in Nigeria is characterized by the following:

• It is a structured and organized system of learning that takes place in schools and other educational institutions.
• It is based on a set curriculum that is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life.
• It is delivered by trained teachers who are qualified to teach the curriculum.
• It is assessed through examinations and other forms of assessment.

Informal education in Nigeria is characterized by the following:

• It is unplanned and unstructured learning that takes place outside of the formal education system.
• It can take place in a variety of settings, such as the home, the workplace, or the community.
• It is often based on the learner’s personal interests and experiences.
• It can be delivered by a variety of people, such as family members, friends, community leaders, or even strangers.
• It is not assessed in the same way as formal education.

Both formal and informal education are important for the development of individuals and societies. Formal education provides the foundation for learning and skills development, while informal education can help people to acquire knowledge and skills that are relevant to their personal and professional lives.

In Nigeria, formal education is still the dominant form of education, but there is a growing recognition of the importance of informal education. There are a number of initiatives underway to promote informal education, such as the National Informal Education Policy (2016) and the National Informal Education Framework (2017). These initiatives aim to make informal education more accessible and to ensure that it is of high quality.

Here are some examples of formal and informal education in Nigeria:

• Formal education: primary school, secondary school, tertiary education (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, etc.)
• Informal education: apprenticeships, vocational training, religious education, traditional education, community learning programs, etc.

It is important to note that the boundaries between formal and informal education can be blurred. For example, a student who is taking a vocational course at a technical college may also be learning informally from their employer or from other people in the community.

Overall, formal and informal education are complementary forms of learning that can both contribute to the development of individuals and societies. In Nigeria, there is a growing recognition of the importance of informal education, and there are a number of initiatives underway to promote it.