UNICEF, FG target out-of-school crisis through 2050 dev’t plan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Government have identified Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis as one of the country’s most urgent development challenges, pledging to place education at the centre of long-term national planning.

Speaking at the Child Foresight Analysis Roadmap Validation Exercise held at Zuma Resort, Niger State, UNICEF’s Chief of Planning and Monitoring, Wayne Amago Bacale, said the organisation remained committed to supporting efforts to improve access to quality education for every Nigerian child.

“Addressing the out-of-school children crisis remains one of UNICEF’s highest priorities in Nigeria. It is one of the country’s most pressing development challenges,” Bacale said.

He stressed that every child deserves access to quality education through conventional schooling or innovative learning platforms, including digital education where appropriate.

According to Bacale, consultations conducted nationwide as part of the Child Foresight Analysis identified education as one of the most critical sectors requiring urgent intervention if Nigeria is to secure better outcomes for children by 2050.

“That is why this workshop is focused on developing a practical implementation roadmap. We are identifying realistic actions that government and partners can take to ensure the recommendations from the Child Foresight Analysis are translated into measurable improvements,” he said.

The Director-General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, described the roadmap as the first national policy initiative specifically designed to incorporate children’s perspectives into government planning up to 2050.

“The policies being developed were co-created with Nigerian children. The entire consultation process has been driven largely by children themselves, meaning this roadmap genuinely reflects their voices, ideas and aspirations,” he said.

Also speaking, Special Assistant to the President on Disaster and Resilience, Mohammed Ahmed, said children must be recognised as key stakeholders in governance because they would bear the long-term consequences of today’s policy decisions.

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