The concepts and definitions of modernization and political development are controversial and provocative, and not all the dimensions and issues can be dealt with satisfactorily. This paper intends to discuss some of these problems that have resulted from the research in this area. It will also examine Nigeria's federalism in an attempt to ascertain how successfully these concepts can be applied to that country in terms of it achieving modernization and political development.After analyzing Nigeria's political system under colonialism and its Federalism, we focus on the role and function of education in modernization and political development. The conclusion is that education does make a lot contribution to Nigerian government in national integration and nation-building.