The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, says it has developed a framework in collaboration with UNICEF as a roadmap for tackling the persistent cases of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Executive Secretary of the , UBEC, Aisha Garba, stated this at the regional flag-off of of the 2025 national school enrolment drive organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, as part of efforts aimed at reducing cases of out-of-school children in the country.
The UBEB Executive Secretary, who was represented by her aide, Mr Ibrahim Gold, noted that the issue of out-of-school children was prevalent in all parts of the country and said if the document was implemented, it will help to make education easily accessible to every Nigerian child.
Garba, who described the campaign as both “timely and strategic,” emphasised that the Federal Government was determined to ensure every child of school age is enrolled and retained in school.
She called for the active involvement of parents, teachers, traditional rulers, and community leaders in addressing all barriers to education.
“It is an established fact that in every part of the country, there exist various groups of school going age children who for one reason or the other, have not been privileged to attend formal schools. In our quest to swiftly address the out-of-school children phenomenon, UBEC collaborated with UNICEF to develop a framework of action on out-of-school children”, she said.
She called on all education stakeholders especially sub-national governments and development partners to collaborate in implementing the framework of action to address the issues of out-of-school children and increase access to quality education for all children.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said the state government has taken intentional steps to tackle the issue of out-of school children and taken measures to encourage children to attend and stay in schools.
The governor, who was represented on the occasion by the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ubong Umo, mentioned some of the state government interventions to include sustaining the free and compulsory education policy, construction of model primary schools across the thirty one local government areas of the state, provision of free school uniforms and books and other kits to school pupils, training of teachers to equip them with modern teaching techniques and recruitment of new teachers.
“No child should be left alone, neither should the circumstance of one’s birth foreclose the legitimate right to enjoy quality education, which would in future lift the child from poverty,” Governor Eno said.
In a remark, a representative of UNICEF, Ms Nneka Lucia, said UNICEF was committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure access to quality and inclusive education to all children irrespective of gender or circumstances of birth.
“ For us at UNICEF, we reaffirm our commitment to working with governments at all levels and other education stakeholders to ensure that every child is enrolled in school, they remain in school, they receive quality education and complete their education.”
Earlier, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk, expressed gratitude to the Governor for hosting the Southern Zone flag-off and urged all stakeholders to play active roles in enrolling and retaining children in school.
The event, which drew participants from states in the South-South and South East region, also had in attendance, representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, School-Based Management Committee, and the traditional institution, who all pledged their support to end the menace of out-of-school children in the region.
Highpoint of the event was the symbolic registration and enrolment of some pupils in school by the representatives of the Governor and Executive Secretary of UBEC and the distribution of free school uniforms, bags, and books to newly enrolled pupils as part of efforts to boost school attendance.
