In a crucial step towards tackling Nigeria’s challenges with schooling, the 36 state governors who comprise the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have promised to devote at least 15% of their annual budgets to education. This commitment was made at the conclusion of the inaugural International Conference on Girl Child Education, which took place in Abuja from October 10 to 11, 2024.
Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, highlighted the importance of the decision, emphasizing that the increased budgetary allocation is aimed at tackling the growing number of out-of-school children across the country. Governor AbdulRazaq, represented by NGF Director General Abdulateef Shittu, reiterated the urgency of addressing the barriers hindering access to quality education, particularly for girls.
“The unveiling of the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates is pivotal in our collective drive to address access to education and combat learning poverty among our children,” AbdulRazaq said. He further announced that the NGF, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), will recruit over 774,000 volunteers from local governments to advocate for girl child education under the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates (GICEVA) initiative.
The GICEVA initiative aims to mobilize volunteers across the country to promote enrolment and retention of girls in schools, particularly in rural areas. The volunteers, working alongside Gender Desk Officers of the NYSC, will engage communities to raise awareness about the importance of girl child education, while also providing support for foundational literacy and numeracy skills, teacher training, and school infrastructure improvements.
AbdulRazaq explained, “We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youths, through the National Youths Service Corps, to establish a Girl Child Education Community Service Group (CDS-Group). This will form an integral part of our Education Community of Practice, focusing on reducing the number of out-of-school children, driving primary school enrolment, and enhancing the quality of education nationwide.”
The NGF Chair also presented the “Education Expenditure and Institutional Review” report covering the years 2021-2023. This report outlines the progress and challenges states face in education financing and reaffirms the governors’ commitment to addressing the gaps through increased investments.
The scale of Nigeria’s education crisis was underscored by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the conference’s opening remarks. The Vice President warned that Nigeria faces severe consequences if urgent action is not taken to address the millions of children currently out of school.
Shettima remarked, “The dignity of the girl child defines every civilization, and today, we are bound by a duty higher than merely observing the challenges before us. The statistics of out-of-school children in Nigeria are a stark reminder of the urgency of this mission. The latest survey shows that 25.6% of children of primary school age are out of school, and this rate rises to 29.6% for secondary school age children. Each child left on the streets becomes a liability the nation will one day pay for.”
The Vice President urged state governments to prioritize education and emphasized that the well-being of the nation’s future hinges on securing quality education for all children, particularly girls, who face additional barriers such as poverty, early marriage, and cultural constraints.
In a further bid to tackle the out-of-school crisis, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, announced that the federal government would launch a nationwide initiative starting October 15, 2024, aimed at rescuing children from the streets and integrating them into the education system.
“The Federal Government is set to start picking out-of-school children from the streets, beginning on October 15, 2024,” she said, stressing the need for coordinated efforts between federal and state authorities to ensure the success of the initiative.
Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed optimism that the collaboration between the government, civil society, and local communities would help reduce the number of out-of-school children significantly and provide them with the foundational skills needed for their future.
Governor AbdulRazaq reaffirmed the NGF’s dedication to meeting international standards for education funding. “Our commitment to education financing, particularly for girl child education, is unwavering across all states,” he stated. “We are ready to meet the international benchmark of allocating at least 15% of our annual budgets to the education sector. This will be crucial for scaling up access to quality education, providing infrastructural and instructional materials, and ensuring that our children, especially girls, are in school and learning.”
The NGF Chair also called for the development of an “Education Community of Practice” framework, aimed at enhancing enrolment advocacy, providing funding support, and improving educational outcomes across the states. This framework, he noted, will focus on innovative approaches such as experiential and digital literacy programs to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
As Nigeria grapples with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, the commitment by state governors to increase education funding and mobilize community support represents a hopeful step forward. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on sustained political will, effective implementation, and the active involvement of all stakeholders in the education sector.
