The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, now estimated at 20 million. This troubling statistic poses significant risks to the country’s future development. Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, highlighted this pressing issue during the Education Sector Stakeholders’ Consultative Dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for a united and innovative approach to reform the education sector.
Alausa emphasized the importance of fostering accountability, leveraging partnerships, and adopting creative strategies to revamp Nigeria’s educational framework and unlock the potential of its youth. While he acknowledged the vital support from international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, USAID, the European Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education, he admitted that the current outcomes fall short of expectations. He urged stakeholders to intensify their efforts to ensure investments translate into tangible improvements.
The minister outlined the daunting challenges: 20 million children remain out of school, with nearly half never having attended school, and learning poverty levels continuing to rise. With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 350 million by 2050, the urgency for innovative solutions cannot be overstated. He called on government bodies, private organizations, development partners, and civil society to collaborate in addressing these issues.
According to Alausa, the Ministry of Education has prioritized three key areas to tackle these challenges: equitable access, skills development, and governance through data management. These efforts aim to expand educational opportunities, emphasize STEM and vocational education, and strengthen the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, echoed the call for synergy among stakeholders to overcome issues such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funding, and teacher training gaps. She reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to achieving inclusive, quality education as aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Representatives from international organizations also attended the event, delivering goodwill messages and highlighting their ongoing contributions to improving Nigeria’s education sector.