15 million Nigerian children out of school amid deepening inequalities

Thursday, April 30, 2026 - The federal government has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening education crisis, disclosing that approximately 15 million children are currently out of school. 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, revealed the figure at the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp in Jos, Plateau State, where he emphasized that accurate data is the backbone of effective reform.

To address the gap, the ministry is expanding the Digital National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and accelerating the rollout of the Learner Identification Number (LIN) to track students in real time. Dr. Alausa noted that nearly one million out-of-school children have already been mapped for reintegration into formal schools or alternative learning pathways.

“Reliable data remains the backbone of effective education reform," Alausa said. "Without knowing where the children are and why they are out of school, meaningful solutions cannot be implemented.”

The government’s strategy includes significant financial investment and infrastructure development. Between January 2025 and January 2026, states accessed over N106 billion in UBEC matching grants, while N22 billion has been invested in training approximately 978,000 teachers.

Furthermore, more than 10,000 classrooms have been renovated and 7.8 million textbooks have been distributed. Efforts are also being ramped up for the Almajiri and non-formal education sectors, including the training of 1,400 Tsangaya teachers.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, highlighted initiatives like LUMINA 2030 and EduRevamp as essential tools for strengthening curriculum delivery and digital learning.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, warned that the crisis poses severe social and economic risks, including increased poverty and insecurity.

Despite the government's 15 million figure, education expert Titus Syengo suggested the situation might be even more dire, stating during his lead paper presentation that as many as 18.5 million children could currently be out of school in Nigeria. He characterized the crisis as a national emergency that holds significant implications for Africa's broader development.