The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has announced that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governors to address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Dr. Alausa disclosed this during the 2025 Budget Defence session of the joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions, TETFund, and Education, held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He explained that the ministry has engaged state governors and all six regional commissioners for education, including representatives from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to develop sustainable solutions to the issue.
“This has to be a collaborative effort,” Alausa said. “The number of out-of-school children is both alarming and disturbing. It is a nationwide challenge that cuts across all geopolitical regions. If we do not confront it, it will overwhelm us. We’ve met with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and are working closely with all 36 state commissioners for education, including the FCT, to address the problem effectively.”
Dr. Alausa also expressed concern over the neglect of Almajiri schools established during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He called for renewed efforts to revive the initiative.
“Out of over a hundred Almajiri schools built to support out-of-school children, only a few are operational. The current funding for the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission is inadequate. We need increased investment in this area,” he stated.
Additionally, the minister emphasized the importance of human capital development to enhance the education sector.
“Education is the backbone of any progressive society. Without it, we cannot survive as a nation. Unfortunately, Nigeria has one of the lowest human capital indices in the world. This must change,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, highlighted the critical role of education in national development.
“As lawmakers, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that resources allocated to this vital sector are strategically planned and effectively utilized,” Dandutse stated.
He further noted that the proposed 2025 budget must demonstrate a clear vision for addressing the gaps identified in the 2024 Appropriation Act while introducing innovative strategies to tackle emerging challenges in the education sector.
