Nigeria Aims to Reintegrate 3 Million Out-of-School Children Amid Rising Education Crisis
Government Allocates N50 Billion to Tackle Education Gap
Nigeria has set an ambitious target to reintegrate 3 million out-of-school children into the education system this year. The government’s strategy focuses on both formal education and vocational training to equip these children with skills for productive societal roles. As part of this initiative, state offices for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education are being established to decentralize operations. The 2025 Appropriation Bill has proposed a N50 billion budget to support these programs.
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“Technical and vocational education needs sufficient funding, and collective action is required to address Nigeria’s security challenges for a more peaceful nation.”
Alarming Statistics Reveal Education Crisis
According to UNICEF, Nigeria currently has 18.3 million children out of school – the highest in Africa. This represents 15% of the global out-of-school population. The breakdown shows:
- 10.2 million at primary level
- 8.1 million at junior secondary level
- 12.4 million never attended school
- 5.9 million dropped out early
The crisis disproportionately affects Northern Nigeria, particularly the North-East region, where girls are more affected than boys.
Education Gap Fuels Unemployment and Security Concerns
The education crisis directly impacts Nigeria’s projected 4.84% unemployment rate for 2025, which equates to 3.9 million jobless citizens. Experts warn that lack of education leads to unemployment, which often spirals into social misconduct and security challenges.
A recent study links Nigeria’s security problems to unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty, recommending vocational education as a solution to engage youth productively and reduce crime rates.
Related: 30,000 Out-of-School Children Return to Schools in Lagos
Vocational Education as a Solution
Vocational training is emerging as a critical solution for reintegrating out-of-school children into the economic value chain. The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) reports that vocational education could boost job opportunities by 70%.
Olushola Odusanya, NACETEM’s Director-General, emphasizes that revamping vocational education requires:
- Strategic investment
- Quality training programs
- Proper certification and accreditation
As Nigeria faces these interconnected challenges of education, unemployment, and security, experts urge increased government attention and funding for vocational education programs that can provide skills to marginalized youth and contribute to national development.