Nigeria has about 7.6 million out-of-school children, according to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), Lawal Adamu Usman. Speaking at a national conference on girl-child education and empowerment, Usman highlighted the urgent need for collective efforts to address this crisis. He called on religious and traditional leaders to advocate for better education and Empowerment for girls in their communities and urged the World Bank to expand its Adolescents Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Usman emphasised the need for a broader intervention to support girls’ education across Nigeria.
The conference, hosted by Tunji Alausa, brought together key stakeholders, including the Emir of Argungu, Samaila Muhammad Mera, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, alongside other religious and traditional leaders. Themed “Effective Partnerships on Girls’ Education, Out-of-School Children Education for National Development,” the event provided a platform for discussing the ways in which communities, leaders, and government can collaborate to address Nigeria’s education crisis. Discussions focused on the role of community leaders in advocating for policies that support education, especially for girls, in regions where gender discrimination, poverty, and early Marriage are barriers to learning.
Legislative reforms aim to strengthen basic education.
Moreover, Usman stressed the importance of these leaders in improving educational opportunities for girls. He pointed out that more than 50% of Nigerian girls do not attend school at the Basic Education level, with about one million girls dropping out between the first and last years of primary school. Another 600,000 leave between primary six and junior secondary school. Girls make up 38% of Nigeria’s total out-of-school children, underscoring the urgent need for policy action.
To address these challenges, Usman revealed that the Senate Committee on Education is working on amending the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, which is currently at its third reading, alongside another bill to revise the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act. He expressed confidence that once enacted, these legislative efforts would significantly improve access to education, particularly for girls. Strengthening legal frameworks, he noted, could ensure that basic education remains truly free and compulsory, thus preventing more children from dropping out.
Every Nigerian girl deserves a fair chance at education.
Beyond legislative efforts, tackling Nigeria’s education crisis requires addressing deep-rooted socio-economic challenges. Many parents struggle to send their children to school due to financial constraints, with tuition fees, school materials, and transportation costs often out of reach. Even when children are enrolled, poor infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and poorly trained teachers hinder learning, especially in rural areas where schools are scarce. The government must go beyond policy reforms by investing in school infrastructure, equipping teachers with modern skills, and introducing Social Protection measures like free school meals and stipends to support disadvantaged children.
Girls face additional barriers, as cultural and economic pressures often force them out of school. Many communities still prioritise early marriage over formal education, and struggling families tend to favour boys’ education. Targeted interventions such as conditional cash transfers for families who keep their daughters in school and mentorship programmes led by successful women can help change these attitudes. Public awareness campaigns that challenge harmful stereotypes and promote the benefits of educating girls are also essential in shifting societal norms.
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With millions of children still out of school, the urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated. An uneducated population limits economic growth, deepens poverty, and widens social inequalities. While legislative reforms are crucial, real progress will only come through a holistic approach that tackles economic, cultural, and systemic barriers. A concerted national effort, driven by the government, private sector, civil society, and international partners, is essential to building an inclusive education system that leaves no child behind.