The Federal Government has announced that more than one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms in the last 20 months as part of its ongoing efforts to expand access to education across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, while receiving the newly appointed UNESCO Country Representative to Nigeria, Professor Isaiah Barreto Da Rosa, in Abuja.
Alausa said the achievement was part of the Federal Government’s broader education reforms, which focus on increasing enrolment, improving the quality of learning and ensuring that children who have dropped out of school are brought back into the education system.
The minister also revealed that nearly 6.7 million girls have benefited from government interventions aimed at improving access to education and keeping girls in school. However, he stressed that the government must also pay greater attention to the educational needs of boys.
According to Alausa, the Federal Ministry of Education’s reforms are built around six major areas: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), STEM education, reintegration of out-of-school children, data and digitalisation, girl-child education, and quality assurance.
The minister said the government is also investing in teacher development and technology. He welcomed UNESCO’s support for the Accelerated Teacher Professional Programme, which has a target of training one million teachers currently in service.
Alausa further called for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and UNESCO, saying international partnerships should complement existing government programmes and help the country achieve its education objectives more quickly.
Speaking during the meeting, UNESCO’s country representative, Professor Da Rosa, pledged the organisation’s continued support for Nigeria’s education transformation programme. He said UNESCO-supported initiatives had already trained more than 28,000 teachers and reached over 1.7 million students across the country.
Despite the reported progress, Nigeria continues to face a major education challenge, with millions of children still outside the formal school system. Earlier government statements have also highlighted the need for better data to establish the country’s current out-of-school population accurately.
The Federal Government says its priority is now not only to bring children back to school but also to ensure that they remain in school and receive quality education and relevant skills.
