The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the state of learning in Nigeria, revealing that only one out of every four children attending school can read proficiently and solve basic mathematics problems by the age of 14.
The warning was delivered by the Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, during a media dialogue on education held in Ede, Osun State. She noted that the challenge extends beyond poor learning outcomes, pointing out that millions of Nigerian children remain completely excluded from formal education.
According to Lafoucriere, while learning levels among children already enrolled in school remain low, an estimated 10 million additional children are still out of school, further compounding the country’s education crisis.
She explained that the statistics represent millions of young people whose future prospects are being undermined by limited access to quality education and essential foundational skills.
Lafoucriere also cautioned that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is transforming economies and workplaces around the world, creating new opportunities for those with the necessary skills while leaving behind those without access to quality education.
She stressed that children who are unable to acquire digital competencies and adapt to emerging technologies may face increasing disadvantages in the future labour market. According to her, girls remain among the groups most affected by educational inequalities and limited access to learning opportunities.
The UNICEF official further urged media practitioners to maintain consistent attention on education-related issues, noting that sustained reporting can help influence policies, mobilise support, and drive meaningful action in the sector.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Osun State Ministry of Education, Muritala Adekunle Jimoh, highlighted that millions of children across the world, including Nigeria, remain out of school due to factors such as poverty, insecurity, geographical challenges, and socio-cultural barriers.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence that digital technology and artificial intelligence could play a significant role in expanding educational opportunities and addressing learning gaps among vulnerable populations.
Jimoh noted that digital learning platforms are changing how education is delivered by making learning more accessible, flexible, and inclusive. He added that when properly implemented, artificial intelligence can support personalised learning, identify educational gaps, assist teachers, and improve planning and decision-making within the education sector.
Describing education as a key driver of social progress and economic development, he called on stakeholders to intensify efforts toward ensuring that every child has access to quality education.
Also speaking at the event, UNICEF Education Specialist Harold Kpojime described Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge as one of the most severe globally, disclosing that approximately 20 million school-age children are currently outside the formal education system.
He noted that nearly one in every three school-age children in Nigeria is not attending school, making the country one of the nations with the highest out-of-school population in the world.
Kpojime explained that school completion rates continue to decline as students move through different levels of education, with poverty, cultural practices, and other socio-economic challenges contributing significantly to dropout rates.
He also raised concerns about youth unemployment and the widening digital skills gap, revealing that more than 70 percent of Nigerian youths are either unemployed or do not possess the skills required to compete for available job opportunities.
To address these challenges, Kpojime said UNICEF and its partners have continued to expand digital learning initiatives, including the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) and Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), which provide curriculum-based education and entrepreneurship training for young people.
According to him, the Nigeria Learning Passport has been introduced in 24 states and currently serves more than 2.34 million users nationwide. He added that support from partners such as IHS Towers, Airtel, Sony, and Tecno has facilitated teacher training programmes, internet connectivity for more than 2,300 schools, and the distribution of approximately 14,700 digital tablets across the country.
Despite these achievements, Kpojime acknowledged that access to digital devices and technology remains insufficient, stressing the need for stronger support from government agencies, development partners, and private sector organisations to expand educational interventions.
Participants at the media dialogue agreed that closer collaboration among governments, development organisations, private sector stakeholders, and the media will be essential to leveraging digital technology and artificial intelligence to tackle the out-of-school children crisis and equip Nigerian youths with skills needed for the future workforce.
Other organisations supporting the initiative include the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), the World Bank, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
