Governors across Nigeria have raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the country’s education system, warning that without immediate action, the sector risks further collapse. The concerns were voiced by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, during a State-Level Workshop on Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children held in Abuja on Thursday.

Represented by the NGF’s Education Advisor, Leo The Great, Governor AbdulRazaq described Nigeria’s education system as being at a critical juncture. “Nigeria is faced with a crisis. We are dealing with some out-of-school children. However, enrollment in school for most children does not translate into actual learning,” he stated. He cited alarming statistics revealing a 66% out-of-school rate among primary school-age children, driven by poor learning outcomes, high dropout rates, and low transition and completion levels.

AbdulRazaq highlighted systemic challenges plaguing the sector, including an insufficient and undervalued education workforce, chronic underfunding, and inadequate national governance frameworks. He pointed to specific gaps, such as a lack of teacher training in modern and digital literacy skills, absence of appropriate learning materials, weak local capacity for monitoring and evaluation, and limited community support for foundational education. “Foundational skills are critical building blocks for retention and progression in education,” he emphasized, noting that these issues hinder proficiency in numeracy and literacy.

The governor expressed hope that the workshop would galvanize federal and state policymakers to drive evidence-based reforms to improve foundational learning and reduce the number of out-of-school children. “The NGF expects this workshop to strengthen motivation for sustaining reforms across the states,” he added.

Aisha Garba, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), echoed these concerns, acknowledging persistent challenges despite various interventions. Represented by UBEC Deputy Secretary (Technical) Rasaq Akinyemi, Garba stressed the need for inclusive education, stating, “Every Nigerian child, regardless of location or background, deserves access to quality education.” She called for consolidating past achievements to address ongoing political and systemic barriers.

The workshop follows earlier remarks by the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, who, while defending the 2025 education budget before the National Assembly, described the number of out-of-school children as “mind-boggling and disturbing.” Alausa noted that the federal government is collaborating with state governors to tackle this crisis.

Discussions on platforms like X reflect growing public concern, with users urging swift action to address infrastructure deficits and teacher shortages, while others criticized systemic inefficiencies. As Nigeria grapples with this education emergency, stakeholders are calling for unified efforts to ensure sustainable reforms and equitable access to quality education for all children.