UNICEF Urges Action as 10.2 Million Nigerian Children Remain Out of School
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called on stakeholders to intensify efforts to address the staggering number of 10.2 million primary school-aged children currently out of school in Nigeria. Speaking during a press briefing to mark the 2025 International Day of Education themed “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, highlighted the critical state of education in the country. Farah revealed that Northwest Nigeria accounts for 16% of the national out-of-school population, with Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states showing alarmingly high figures. According to data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Kano alone has nearly one million out-of-school children (989,234), while Jigawa and Katsina have 337,861 and 536,112, respectively. He further noted that even among those enrolled in school, learning outcomes remain poor, compounding the challenges in the region. “Education is a fundamental human right and an engine for societal development. It is crucial for duty bearers and stakeholders to take urgent action to address the barriers preventing children from accessing quality basic education,” Farah emphasized. UNICEF also urged the governments of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina to increase funding, ensure timely release of appropriations, and prioritize spending in the basic education sector to enhance outcomes and contribute to national development. Farah reaffirmed UNICEF’s support for state-led initiatives to improve education and reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to achieve better educational results.
