ABU Roundtable: Prof. Sagir Abbas Calls for Bold Reforms to End Out-of-School Children Crisis in Northern Nigeria

Former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, has called for bold political leadership, institutional reforms and sustained investment to tackle the growing out-of-school children crisis in Northern Nigeria.

Abbas made the call while delivering the keynote address at a roundtable conference organised by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on July 16, 2026, at the Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Main Campus, Samaru.

Presenting a paper titled, “Out-of-School Children in Northern Nigeria: Understanding the Context, Rethinking the Challenge and Charting a Transformative Policy Agenda,” the former BUK Vice-Chancellor said the education crisis remains urgent but can be addressed through coordinated efforts by governments, educational institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and local communities.

He said reversing the trend would require political will, innovative institutions, sustainable funding and community participation to ensure every child has access to quality education.

According to Abbas, the out-of-school children crisis cannot be understood through statistics alone, stressing that policymakers must also address the social, economic, cultural, political and institutional factors preventing children from accessing education.

He noted that previous interventions had largely failed because they treated all out-of-school children as one group instead of recognising their different circumstances and educational needs.

“The label ‘out-of-school child’ encompasses a heterogeneous population whose members face different barriers and therefore require different policy responses,” he said.

Abbas explained that Northern Nigeria’s educational challenge does not reflect a rejection of learning, noting that the region has a rich history of Islamic scholarship and educational excellence. He said the crisis is largely driven by the disconnect between traditional education systems, modern schooling and prevailing socio-economic realities.

Citing data from UNESCO and UNICEF, Abbas said more than 250 million children and youths are out of school globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for a significant share.

He added that UNICEF estimates indicate that about 18 million children of primary and junior secondary school age are currently out of school in Nigeria, with nearly two-thirds located in the North-West and North-East.

The education expert identified eight major categories of out-of-school children requiring tailored interventions. They include children who have never enrolled in school, school dropouts, Almajirai and pupils in traditional Qur’anic schools outside integrated education systems, nomadic and pastoralist children, internally displaced children, children living with disabilities, girls excluded by gender-related barriers and children engaged in child labour.

He said educational exclusion in Northern Nigeria is driven by poverty, insecurity, displacement, disability, gender inequality, migration and institutional weaknesses.

According to him, the priority should not only be reducing the number of out-of-school children but also implementing evidence-based, context-specific strategies that respond to the unique needs of each group.

Abbas expressed confidence that inclusive and targeted policies would help Northern Nigeria move from fragmented education interventions to a sustainable system that guarantees quality learning opportunities for every child.

The roundtable conference was organised by Ahmadu Bello University as part of its efforts to promote policy dialogue and develop practical solutions to the out-of-school children crisis in Northern Nigeria.