Jigawa State is grappling with a critical educational crisis, with nearly 800,000 children out of school, ranking fifth in Nigeria for the highest number of out-of-school children. In response, the state government has prioritised education, implementing urgent reforms aimed at reversing this trend. In this special report, AHMED RUFA’I writes that through strategic partnerships, budgetary allocations and a renewed focus on school enrolment, the state government is committed to ensuring that every child receives the education they deserve.
Jigawa State, ranked fifth in Nigeria for the high number of out-of-school children, is currently facing a critical educational challenge. Approximately 800,000 children in the state are not attending school. In response, the administration led by Governor Malam Umar Namadi has introduced a series of new strategies aimed at addressing this longstanding issue.
Governor Namadi’s commitment to tackling this crisis stems from the alarming discovery that only 16.8% of school-age children in the state are enrolled in school. This finding underscores the scale of the problem, with a vast majority of children—around 83.2%—either roaming the streets, engaging in street begging, or involved in other forms of child labour instead of receiving an education.
The gravity of the situation was highlighted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which conducted a recent survey revealing the extent of the out-of-school phenomenon in Jigawa State. UNICEF’s report emphasises the urgent need for targeted interventions to ensure that children of school age receive quality education and are not left behind. Governor Namadi’s administration is now prioritising the development and implementation of policies that will reduce the number of out-of-school children and create an enabling environment for education in the state. The new strategies aim to address the root causes of this issue and provide more opportunities for children to enrol in school, reducing the number of children who are vulnerable to exploitation and marginalisation.
Speaking at a recent commitment meeting with the Jigawa State House of Assembly in Kaduna, Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, revealed that only 16.8% of children in the state are currently enrolled in school. Farah explained that 44% of primary school-age children and 52% of secondary school-age children in Jigawa are not attending school, creating a significant educational gap and depriving these children of their fundamental right to universal basic education. He also highlighted the alarmingly low levels of foundational literacy and numeracy in the state. Farah urged the state legislature to take immediate action, calling for substantial reforms ahead of the next Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which is scheduled for 2026/2027. He emphasised the need for a radical shift in the state’s educational landscape to address these pressing issues.
In response to these concerns, UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government of Jigawa to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve the overall quality of education in the state. Addressing the situation, the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin, declared a state of emergency in education. He stressed that the legislators were fully aware of the crisis, which is why education has been prioritised in the state’s 2024 budget, with 32% of the budget allocated to the sector. Additionally, Dangyatin noted that the state has already begun efforts to restructure its education system by creating separate ministries for Basic and Higher Education and implementing wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving educational standards.
As part of their commitment to tackling this issue, the 30 members of the state House of Assembly signed an agreement with UNICEF to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 42% between September 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. Following the meeting, UNICEF organised an interactive session with relevant stakeholders in the education sector to plan a comprehensive school enrolment campaign across all 30 constituencies in the state. This session, supported by the European Union, took place in Dutse, the state capital, and aimed to mobilise support and resources for the campaign to boost school enrolment in Jigawa. Fielding questions from journalists at the venue of the interactive session, Mr Muttaqa Muktar Muhammad, Education Specialist at UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, explained that the session was part of a broader initiative aimed at improving education and youth employment. The project is managed by UNICEF, funded by the European Union, and implemented in partnership with both the state and local government authorities.
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Mr Muhammad highlighted that the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board, in collaboration with the European Union and UNICEF, organised the interactive session to plan a comprehensive school enrolment campaign across the state’s 30 constituencies. “We are here today to support efforts aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Jigawa State,” he said. “As you may have heard during the discussions, Jigawa ranks eighth among the states in Nigeria with the highest number of out-of-school children.”
He further emphasised that education is a fundamental right for every child, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This, he said, underscores the urgent need for collective action by all stakeholders to ensure that every child in the state has access to education. Mr Muhammad also commended the Jigawa State Government for allocating 32% of its annual budget to education, noting that this commitment exceeds the United Nations’ benchmark for education funding.
“The Jigawa State Government is investing significant resources to ensure that children benefit from their right to education. As you know, 32% of the total 2024 budget has been allocated to education. We are pleased to have a strong partnership with the 30 members of the Jigawa State House of Assembly,” said Mr. Muhammad. On the 7th of this month, we held a commitment meeting with all the members of the House of Assembly, where they all agreed to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 42% in their respective constituencies. Each member signed a commitment with UNICEF to tackle this issue within their constituencies. This is a significant step forward,” he added.
Muhammad explained that the purpose of the meeting was to bring together all relevant stakeholders to support the reduction of out-of-school children. “Our aim is to devise an action plan, coordinate our efforts, and accelerate the reduction of out-of-school children in Jigawa State,” he stated. He also pointed out the diversity of the participants at the meeting, which included representatives from various sectors across the state. “We had participants from the State House of Assembly, chief executives from education sectors, LGA support teams, traditional rulers, Mothers’ Associations, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and community-based organisations (CBOs). All of these groups are working together to organise an enrolment drive that will facilitate coverage across all 30 constituencies in the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.”
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Haruna Musa, highlighted that the primary objective of the meeting was to address the pressing issue of out-of-school children, a challenge for which Jigawa is ranked among the seven most affected states in Nigeria. Prof Musa stated, “The issue of out-of-school children in the state has been a major concern for the government. It is something that has been disturbing us and keeping us awake at night, especially when we see children wandering the streets with no purpose. In the 21st century, education is key, and every child deserves at least a basic level of education—learning to read and write is fundamental.”
He further explained the strategies the government has put in place to address this issue. “For these reasons, we have been engaging with communities and stakeholders, holding numerous meetings, particularly with mothers. We have developed a strategy involving mothers’ associations at the school level. The aim is threefold: first, we want them to monitor their children’s learning outcomes; second, to ensure they are safeguarding their children; and third, to address the issue of out-of-school children. We want mothers to work on persuading parents who neglect their children’s education to send them back to school, as we believe that leaving children to roam the streets exposes them to serious risks—not only to themselves but also to their communities. This is our target.”
Prof Musa also referenced recent events to highlight the severity of the issue. “What happened during the last protest is a clear indication that we have serious issues on the ground. The children involved were not Almajiri; they were children from the local communities who are not attending school, and whose parents have lost control over them. There is an urgent need for parents to take responsibility—to send their children to school, to monitor their academic progress, and to ensure their safety. As a mother, it is crucial to be concerned about where your child is going and what they are doing. You must make sure that they are engaged in something constructive and that nothing harmful happens to them, especially in terms of their character. This is very, very important.”
“In this effort, we are working to re-engage parents, the MBMC, as well as mothers’ associations. We have also involved Imams and religious leaders to ensure that all hands are on deck to address this issue. It is unfortunate, but we are committed to resolving it. We are focusing on this issue and want everyone to come on board and work together. We seek full collaboration to achieve our goal of tackling the menace of out-of-school children in the state,” the don said. He further stated that the forum would develop and agree on an accelerated plan to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and member representing Gwaram Constituency, Ado Yakubu Zandam, pledged the full support of the legislature to ensure the success of the school enrolment drive across their respective constituencies. Zandam acknowledged that the issue of out-of-school children had long been a source of concern for both parents and the government. He said, “We recognise the urgency of this matter, and the legislature is fully committed to addressing this crisis.”
As part of the implementation of the agreement made with UNICEF to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 42% across the 30 constituencies, Zandam has successfully enrolled over 9,000 out-of-school children through the Sarkin Dawaki Education Foundation, which he founded. This initiative was part of his ongoing efforts to reduce the out-of-school rate in his constituency. Zandam, who is also the Chairman of the Jigawa State Assembly’s Committee for Universal Basic Education, made this announcement while speaking at Nasarawa village in Gwaram Local Government Area, shortly after presenting free school uniforms to 180 children in the village.
The lawmaker explained, “I was both devastated and encouraged by the findings of the Foundation, which revealed that there are over 20,000 out-of-school children in Gwaram Local Government Area. This report has motivated me to push even harder for solutions to this pressing issue.” Zandam, Chairman of the Foundation, explained that the foundation had also conducted research to identify the causes of the rising number of out-of-school children in the area. “Some of the key factors contributing to this issue include poverty, long distances to schools, and misunderstandings between some communities,” he said. The lawmaker emphasised that the gesture of providing school uniforms was part of his broader initiative to address the problem of out-of-school children in the region.
Zandam stated that his foundation had collaborated with traditional and religious leaders, as well as the chairmen and members of the Community-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) of primary and junior secondary schools across all 11 political wards in Gwaram Local Government Area. This collaboration aims to ensure that all newly enrolled, returning, and continuing students attend school regularly. He further explained, “A total of 30 pupils were selected from six schools in the area, with four nomadic schools and two conventional schools benefiting from the gesture, which is worth N2.8 million. This initiative aims to support children from poor families who are unable to afford uniforms and other school essentials necessary for attending school.”
According to him, 20 males and 10 females from each of the six selected schools benefited from this support. He also stressed that the foundation is working closely with religious and community leaders, parents, and School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to ensure that all eligible children in the area are enrolled in school. “Addressing the issue of out-of-school children requires a collaborative effort,” Honourable Zandam stated. “As a lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, we have introduced several programmes and policies to identify the challenges our children face in accessing education.”
He continued, “Through these efforts, we have identified several obstacles that prevent children from attending school in various areas, and we are actively working to address them. For instance, I set up a committee that discovered there are over 20,000 out-of-school children in Gwaram Local Government Area. In response, we have selected 450 schools under my education foundation to provide them with teaching and learning materials.”
The lawmaker further highlighted that the lack of access to water and the absence of schools in some communities were identified as major obstacles preventing children from attending school. “We are addressing these challenges by providing sources of water in these areas. Additionally, we are collaborating with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to establish schools in communities where they are lacking, ensuring that children can attend school without any hindrance,” he explained.
“Going forward, we will be meeting regularly with community leaders and the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to facilitate the reintegration of out-of-school children. Headmasters will also be tasked with taking attendance of students who fail to attend school from Monday to Friday. The names of these children will be forwarded to the village heads, and then to their parents, to ensure prompt and appropriate action,” he assured.
Further findings by our reporter in the state revealed that the Jigawa State Government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, has prioritised education as one of the core pillars of his 12-point agenda, with nearly all his policies and programmes focused on this goal. One of the first strategic steps taken to address the out-of-school children crisis was the establishment of a fully-fledged Ministry of Universal Basic Education. Governor Namadi appointed an experienced educationist and policy expert as commissioner to lead the ministry, signalling his administration’s commitment to improving the educational sector.
In a major step to professionalise the teaching workforce, Governor Namadi confirmed and presented permanent, pensionable employment to over 3,143 qualified teachers who had previously worked as casual staff for years. This offer of permanent employment was made during a colourful ceremony at the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse, following a rigorous screening and selection process. Governor Namadi explained, “As part of our commitment to the implementation of our 12-point agenda, we have made the teachers who served as temporary staff for two years permanent, after they successfully passed the necessary examinations. All 3,143 teachers were recruited based on merit, and we are confident they will provide quality education to our children.”
He also noted that the newly recruited teachers would be closely monitored, and any individual who failed to comply with the employment rules would be dismissed. “We will ensure that all teachers uphold the standards expected of them,” the governor emphasised. In addition, Governor Namadi has approved contracts for the renovation of primary and junior secondary schools that were damaged by windstorms across all 27 local government areas of the state. The renovation project will cost a total of over one billion naira.
