UNICEF Raises Alarm as Nigeria’s Out-of-School Children Numbers Hit 18.95 million

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has soared to 18.95 million, underscoring the country’s deepening education crisis.

This alarming figure was disclosed at an orientation programme for traditional leaders held in Numan, Adamawa State.

The event, organized by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Adamawa State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, aimed to mobilise traditional institutions to combat the crisis.

Key local government areas in Adamawa, Guyuk, Numan, Jada, and Demsa, were identified as having the highest dropout rates among both boys and girls.

Commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, represented by Permanent Secretary Hajiya Aisha Umar, stressed the vital role traditional rulers play in tackling out-of-school rates at the grassroots level.

He noted that in other to reposition the educational sector particularly the out of school children in the state, the role of the traditional leaders’ involvement is strategic in reducing the rate of out of school children in the state.

Highlighting the aim of the orientation, UNICEF Education Specialist/ Officer, Abdulraham Ado said “It is aimed at reducing out of school children in Adamawa state and the roles of traditional institutions in achieving it.

Adding that “It is also aimed at promoting school enrollment, retention and transition in the school system as well as understanding community ownership of our schools.”

Director Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Rufus Isaiah, in his presentation highlights the alarming rate of out of school children in Nigeria with Adamawa state accounting for 30percent in Nigeria.

He added that statistics shows that out of every three children between age 4-12 in Nigeria, one is out of school amounting to 10.2millon out of school children in primary school.

He said, “Though, Adamawa state is the not the state with the highest number of out of school children, there is still lot to be done in addressing the menace.”

Earlier in her remarks, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, highlighted the critical role of traditional leaders in reducing the number of out-of-school children. She stated that UNICEF remains committed to initiatives that ensure no child is left behind, particularly in areas of health and education.

Responding on behalf of the emirs and chiefs, the Paramount Ruler of the Bachama Chiefdom, His Majesty Hama Bachama Ismaila Daniel Shaga, expressed appreciation to UNICEF and its partners for the intervention.

He pledged the full support of traditional rulers in ensuring the success of the initiative.

Hama Bachama, called on the federal government to grant constitutional roles to traditional institutions to provide them with legal backing.

He urged the Adamawa State Government under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to urgently address the dilapidated infrastructure in the education sector.

The one-day engagement was attended by all six traditional rulers from the Adamawa Southern Zone: Hama Bachama, Hama Bata, Murum Mbula, Amna Shelleng, Kwadi-Nunguraya, and Gangwari Ganye, alongside senior government officials and stakeholders in the education sector.”