Governors of the 19 Northern states have raised the alarm over what they described as a deepening education crisis in the region, calling for urgent, coordinated action by federal, state and development partners to reverse decades of poor learning outcomes and high numbers of out-of-school children.
The governors, under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), made the call at the end of a high-level meeting in Abuja, where education was identified as a major threat to human capital development, security and long-term economic growth in the region.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum expressed concern that Northern Nigeria accounts for a disproportionately high percentage of the country’s out-of-school children, many of whom are affected by poverty, insecurity, cultural barriers and weak education infrastructure.
According to the governors, the situation has been worsened by persistent insecurity in some states, displacement of communities, shortage of qualified teachers, poor funding, and dilapidated school facilities, particularly in rural areas.
“The forum notes with grave concern the alarming state of education in Northern Nigeria and resolves that urgent, decisive and sustained interventions are required to avert further decline,” the communiqué read.
Call for Federal and State Collaboration
The governors urged the Federal Government to scale up investments in basic and secondary education, particularly in teacher recruitment and training, school rehabilitation and learning materials, while also strengthening coordination with states to ensure effective implementation of education policies.
They also pledged to increase budgetary allocations to education at the state level, in line with national and international benchmarks, and to prioritise programmes aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
The forum emphasised the need to integrate formal education with skills acquisition and vocational training, especially for adolescents who have dropped out of school, to improve employability and reduce youth vulnerability.
Security and Social Dimensions
From a security perspective, the governors warned that neglecting education could fuel crime, extremism and social instability, noting that illiteracy and unemployment create fertile ground for recruitment by criminal and insurgent groups.
They called for stronger collaboration between education authorities, security agencies and traditional institutions to protect schools, encourage enrolment and sustain attendance, particularly for girls.
Role of Traditional and Religious Leaders
The NSGF also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to intensify advocacy for education, stressing that social norms and misconceptions continue to hinder school enrolment and retention in some areas.
Development partners and the private sector were encouraged to expand support for education through funding, innovation, digital learning and public-private partnerships.
Way Forward
The governors resolved to set up a joint implementation framework to track progress on agreed education reforms and to regularly review outcomes at subsequent forum meetings.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively to ensure that every child in Northern Nigeria has access to quality, safe and inclusive education.
Observers say the renewed focus by Northern governors could mark a turning point if backed by sustained political will, adequate funding and effective monitoring, as education remains central to addressing poverty, insecurity and inequality in the region.