FG Allocates N50 Billion to Address 18.3 Million Out-of-School Children Issue

The Federal Government has allocated N50 billion in the 2025 budget to address the issue of out-of-school children, which is currently estimated at a staggering 18.3 million in Nigeria.

This initiative, part of the Economic Recovery Growth Plan, is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education under the project titled ‘ERGP24225846 support for out-of-school children project’.

According to the latest statistics from UNESCO, the breakdown indicates that 10.2 million children are not attending primary school, while 8.1 million are absent from Junior Secondary School (JSS).

Last month, the Federal Government raised concerns about the alarming number of out-of-school children in the country, acknowledging that failure to address this issue could have serious implications for Nigeria’s future.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, speaking at the Education Sector Stakeholders’ Consultative Dialogue, stressed the importance of innovation, accountability, and strategic partnerships to revitalise the education sector and harness the potential of the nation’s youth. He urged stakeholders—including government agencies, development partners, the private sector, and civil society—to adopt a collaborative approach to combat this crisis.

“Education is not just an investment in our children; it is the foundation of our nation’s future. With dedication, innovation, and strategic action, we will transform Nigeria’s education landscape,” he said.

He added that to address these challenges, the Ministry has outlined three strategic priorities: equitable access, skill development, and governance as well as data management. 

In a chat with the media , the Initiator, Creative Change Centre, Omole Ibukun, applauded the government’s proposal.  Ibukun, however, noted that its impact would be limited, saying that with the country’s 18.3 million out-of-school children, the amount translates to a meager N2,732 per child.  

He called for a more comprehensive approach, including provision of free education.  He said: “The allocation of N50 billion for out-of-school children in the 2025 budget is a step in the right direction if the funds are not corruptly laundered by public officials.  

“But it is small when placed side by side with the 18.3 million out of school children in Nigeria. This can only mean N2,732 per out of school children. That’s very small. What can that do to bring a child back to school? How many books can that buy? How many school meals can that provide?  

“Despite the fact that it is small, it is also crucial to align how these funds will be spent with the issues that lead to children being out-of-school in the first place. The main cause of the out-of-school children is poverty and until we can establish a truly free education with provision of free academic resources for students, this allocation will just gloss over the surface of the issue, at best.”