FG Warns 15 Million Nigerian Children Are Out of School, Unveils Digital Tracking Plan

The Federal Government has revealed that around 15 million Nigerian children are currently out of school. Education officials announced the figure at the 2026 Basic Education Bootcamp in Jos, Plateau State. To tackle the crisis, the Ministry of Education is expanding its National Education Management Information System and rolling out a Learner Identification Number. Nearly one million out-of-school children have already been mapped for reintegration into formal schools or alternative learning pathways. Funding and infrastructure remain key priorities. States accessed over ₦106 billion in matching grants from UBEC between January 2025 and January 2026. During the same period, ₦22 billion was spent on training almost one million teachers, more than 10,000 classrooms were renovated, and 7.8 million textbooks were distributed. Officials also highlighted special initiatives for Almajiri and non-formal education sectors. Experts warn the true number of out-of-school children could be closer to 18.5 million, calling the situation a national emergency with serious social and economic consequences.

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