The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has entered into a partnership with traditional rulers to address Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children crisis and improve access to basic education across the country.
The initiative is aimed at using the influence and grassroots authority of traditional institutions to encourage parents to enroll their children in school and ensure that those already enrolled remain in the education system.
UBEC believes traditional rulers can play a crucial role in identifying children who are out of school, engaging their families and addressing cultural, economic and social barriers preventing them from receiving formal education.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, highlighted the importance of community participation in tackling the challenge, noting that government interventions alone may not be sufficient to reverse the situation.
As part of the arrangement, the commission has partnered with the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development through a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen community-based education advocacy.
North-West, North-East Face Major Challenges
Nigeria continues to grapple with a significant number of children who are unable to access basic education.
Figures referenced by UBEC indicate that the North-West and North-East account for substantial proportions of the country’s out-of-school population.
According to UNICEF’s 2025 Nigeria Annual Report, approximately 10.2 million children were out of school, with 45 per cent in the North-West and 28 per cent in the North-East.
Garba also highlighted UBEC’s interventions in improving learning facilities, including the construction and renovation of more than 4,900 classrooms.
Partnership to Focus on Enrolment and Retention
Under the collaboration, traditional rulers are expected to mobilize communities, sensitize parents and encourage greater participation in formal education.
The initiative will also focus on improving school attendance, reducing dropouts and ensuring children complete their basic education.
UBEC says the success of the partnership will be measured through improvements in enrolment, attendance, retention and learning outcomes.
The commission hopes that involving traditional institutions will strengthen public ownership of education programmes and accelerate efforts to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality basic education.
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