- Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, labels the increasing number of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria a ticking time bomb
- Sununu emphasizes the urgent need for concerted efforts to address and reverse the alarming trend of out-of-school children
The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, has voiced concerns over the escalating number of out-of-school children, particularly in northern Nigeria, describing it as a ticking time bomb that demands urgent attention. Sununu addressed the issue during the 2023 Bauchi Education Summit held at Dr. Saad Abubakar Hajj Camp in Bauchi, focusing on the theme, ‘Nurturing a flourishing future: Improving access and quality education in Bauchi State.’
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently reported that one in three children in Nigeria is out of school, totaling 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school (JSS) level.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, in a meeting in October, disclosed that the number of out-of-school children in his state alone was 680,000. Similarly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State stated in September that his state had over 500,000 out-of-school children in 2019, and the number had increased to over 600,000.
Addressing this critical issue, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, in 2019, emphasized that parents neglecting to send their children to school should face legal consequences, asserting that Islam supports the education of the girl-child.
Minister Sununu, echoing the sentiments expressed by other leaders, expressed deep concern over the rising figures of out-of-school children in Nigeria, especially in the North, deeming it not only unacceptable but also disheartening. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to address and reverse this alarming trend, highlighting the urgency of providing quality education for all children in the region.