UNICEF has identified Jigawa, Kano and Katsina as the states with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The country accounts for 18.3 million out-of-school children, the largest figure globally. Aisha Abdullahi, education consultant at UNICEF's Kano Field Office, disclosed this during a two-day journalist dialogue on Sunday. She stated that the three states together contribute nearly 30 per cent of the national total, due to poverty, insecurity, cultural barriers and poor school readiness.
Abdullahi presented a paper on foundation learning and skills development, stressing that Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) is vital to preventing children from dropping out before formal schooling. ECCDE targets children from birth to age five, building cognitive, emotional and social skills essential for school success. She cited research showing that 90 per cent of brain development occurs before age five. Children who access early learning are significantly more likely to enrol and stay in school, while those who miss it are twice as likely to drop out.
Abdullahi noted that functional ECCDE centres see up to 40 per cent higher Primary One enrolment and better retention. Despite one year of pre-primary education being part of Nigeria's Universal Basic Education framework, access remains limited, especially in rural areas. She highlighted ECCDE's role in advancing girls' education by delaying early marriage and increasing maternal engagement. Stakeholders revealed less than 15 per cent of fathers actively participate in early learning, though their involvement could reduce dropout rates by up to 50 per cent.
Participants called for expanding ECCDE to all primary schools, allocating at least 5 per cent of education budgets to early learning, training more teachers and integrating traditional and religious systems.
Aisha Abdullahi highlights early childhood education as key to reducing out-of-school numbers, yet fathers' participation remains below 15 per cent in the very states most affected. When male guardians are absent from early learning, their influence in keeping children — especially girls — in school is lost. The push for ECCDE expansion means little without confronting this gap in household engagement. Policy talk cannot replace the father's role in a child's decision to stay in school.
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