The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that millions of children and young people in Nigeria remain out of school, largely due to poverty, limited awareness of education’s value, and inadequate infrastructure.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday by Caroline Moi, UNICEF’s Acting Education Manager in Maiduguri, during activities marking the International Day of Education, celebrated this year with the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.”
Moi explained that the commemoration served as an opportunity to reflect on the role of education in fostering peace and sustainable development, while also acknowledging the vital contributions of young people to shaping effective learning systems. She noted that youths should be seen not merely as recipients of educational services but as active partners who can contribute ideas, engage in decision-making, and support improvements within the education sector.
Drawing attention to Borno State and other conflict-affected regions, Moi said many families are unable to afford schooling, while some parents lack adequate understanding of the importance of education and equal learning opportunities for both boys and girls.
She further identified the shortage of school facilities and the challenge of accessing remote communities as major factors preventing children from enrolling in school.
According to her, UNICEF, working alongside the Ministry of Education, relevant government agencies, and civil society organisations, is implementing programmes that provide alternative learning opportunities for children who are currently out of school.
She stated that these initiatives are aimed at strengthening basic literacy and numeracy skills, enabling children to continue their education and progress to higher levels of learning.
Moi also stressed the need to equip young people with practical and employable skills, emphasising that education must prepare them for self-reliance and success in an increasingly dynamic global environment.
She added that UNICEF remains committed to collaborating with partners to expand access to education in hard-to-reach areas, with the goal of ensuring that no child is excluded from learning opportunities.
The event was organised in partnership with the Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD), the Borno State Government, and other stakeholders.
