UNESCO Report: Nigeria's Out-of-School Children Crisis

The UNESCO 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report reveals a troubling increase in out-of-school children, totaling 273 million worldwide, primarily driven by population growth, conflict, and dwindling educational budgets. The report emphasizes that Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria, faces severe challenges, with Nigeria alone contributing 20 million to this figure.

Factors such as insecurity, poverty, and cultural norms significantly hinder educational access, with northern regions like Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara accounting for 60% of Nigeria's out-of-school population. Dr.

Segun Borod, a child development expert, identifies conflict and poverty as the main drivers of this crisis. The report also notes that while there has been a 30% increase in primary and secondary school enrollment since 2000, progress remains slow and uneven across different regions.

UNESCO Director General Khale El Enani describes the situation as alarming, urging for collaborative efforts to expand learning opportunities and address local realities to ensure every child has a fair chance at education.