The Federal Government has expressed renewed concern over Nigeria’s deepening out-of-school children crisis, revealing that about 15 million children are currently not in school.
Despite the challenge, authorities say efforts have been stepped up nationwide, focusing on data-driven reforms, stronger partnerships and targeted investments to widen access to education and improve learning outcomes.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, made this known at the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp held in Jos, Plateau State.
Alausa emphasised that credible education data and proper tracking of learners are essential to addressing long-standing issues in the sector, including gaps in basic literacy and numeracy.
He said: “Reliable data remains the backbone of effective education reform. Without knowing where the children are and why they are out of school, meaningful solutions cannot be implemented.”
The minister explained that the Federal Ministry of Education is scaling up the Digital National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and fast-tracking the rollout of the Learner Identification Number (LIN) to allow real-time monitoring of students across the country.
He noted that the 2025/2026 Annual School Census has already recorded over two million learners, providing key insights to guide policy, boost enrolment strategies and improve accountability.
According to him, close to one million out-of-school children have already been identified for reintegration into formal schooling and alternative learning programmes.
Alausa also disclosed that between January 2025 and January 2026, states accessed more than N106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants to strengthen basic education nationwide.
In addition, about N22 billion has been invested in teacher training, resulting in nearly 978,000 teachers being equipped with improved skills across the country.
He added that over 10,000 classrooms have been upgraded, while 7.8 million textbooks have been distributed to enhance learning conditions.
The minister further stated that the government is prioritising vulnerable groups through expanded Almajiri and non-formal education initiatives.
He revealed that 1,400 Tsangaya teachers have been trained, 119 learning centres identified nationwide and 760 enumerators deployed to strengthen grassroots education data collection and planning.
In her remarks, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the bootcamp as an important platform for tackling persistent challenges in basic education.
She highlighted programmes such as LUMINA 2030, EduRevamp, Skill-Up and Communities of Practice as key efforts aimed at improving curriculum delivery, boosting teacher capacity, expanding digital learning and strengthening monitoring systems nationwide.
Also speaking, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, cautioned that the growing number of out-of-school children poses serious social and economic threats, including poverty, insecurity and exclusion.
He outlined the state government’s interventions, including building and renovating classrooms, providing water facilities and supplying learning materials to improve access to education.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel O. Enitan, represented by Director of Basic Education and event convener, Dr. Mrs. Folake Olatunji-Davis, said the bootcamp was designed to go beyond discussions and produce practical solutions.
She explained that stakeholders were brought together to identify gaps, exchange experiences and develop measurable strategies for finding, reintegrating and retaining out-of-school children within the education system.
