The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Nigeria’s education crisis is evolving into a more complex challenge driven by poverty, rapid population growth, weak learning outcomes and growing doubts about the value of formal schooling.
Harold Kpojime, UNICEF Education Specialist, made the remarks at a two-day media dialogue on digital learning, artificial intelligence and skills development for out-of-school children held in Ede, Osun State.
The workshop was organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Osun State Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), among others.
The event attracted journalists from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states.
Citing findings from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Kpojime said Nigeria remains home to one of the world’s largest populations of out-of-school children, with about one in three primary school-age children not attending school.
National attendance is 68.4 per cent at primary level, falling to 47.6 per cent at junior secondary and 46.7 per cent at senior secondary levels.
“While the South-West performs above the national average about 82 per cent primary attendance many learners are still lost as they progress to higher levels,” Kpojime said.
He said the country’s education challenge can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of access. “It is no longer just about getting children into school; we are also dealing with poor learning outcomes. We have children in school who are not learning adequately,” he added.
Kpojime identified rapid population growth as intensifying pressure on already stretched educational and economic resources, noting that resources are not expanding at the same pace as the population.
He also said rising unemployment and underemployment have led many young people to question the value of formal education, with some preferring vocational training or entrepreneurship.
Despite these concerns, Kpojime maintained that education remains the most reliable pathway to improved life outcomes and national development.
He also highlighted shortcomings in foundational learning and language policy, recalling classmates from his university years who struggled with basic English despite years of schooling. “Children learn better when taught in a language they understand,” he said.
Teacher quality was singled out as a critical factor in poor learning outcomes, with Kpojime warning that many states have gone years without structured teacher training. “We must invest in teachers. They are central to addressing the learning crisis and reducing the number of out-of-school children,” he said.
As part of efforts to support teaching and learning, Kpojime highlighted the Nigerian Learning Passport — a digital platform developed by UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Education and Microsoft — which offers free, curriculum-aligned resources from early childhood through secondary school.
He noted that telecommunications company Airtel has zero-rated the platform, allowing users free access without data charges.
The media dialogue was supported by the World Bank, the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, GPE, Microsoft and education authorities across federal, state and local governments.
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