Gombe State, Nigeria, has launched a decisive initiative to address its alarming out-of-school children crisis by prosecuting parents and guardians who fail to enrol their children in school, backed by the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Amendment Law 2021. This campaign aims to reverse the growing trend of out-of-school children in the state and across Nigeria’s North-East region.
With over 787,000 children out of school in Gombe alone, according to UNICEF and World Bank data, the state’s efforts are part of a national initiative to combat the broader educational crisis in Nigeria. The country has the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with an estimated 13.5 million children not enrolled in school.
At the launch of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, Babaji Babadidi, Chairman of SUBEB, outlined the state’s stringent measures to enforce school attendance.
“Every parent should ensure that their child or ward attends and completes primary, junior, and senior secondary education,” Babadidi emphasized, stressing the government’s commitment to enforcing this law. According to Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021, parents who fail to ensure their children attend school will face a fine or a one-month prison sentence for a first offence, with subsequent violations leading to up to two months of imprisonment.
This legal framework marks a shift from the state’s previous “carrot approach” of providing free education and learning materials. Babadidi noted that if the target of enrolling 400,000 students into primary schools this session is not met, the government will fully enforce the law. The campaign sets an ambitious goal of enrolling 110,000 pupils across Gombe’s 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with each LGA tasked with enrolling at least 10,000 pupils. However, Professor Aishatu Maigari, Gombe’s Commissioner for Education, proposed doubling this target to 20,000 pupils per LGA, aiming for 220,000 new enrolments statewide.
Gombe State, located in Nigeria’s North-East region, is grappling with a severe education crisis. According to data from UNICEF and the World Bank, approximately 787,000 children in the state are currently out of school. This figure is part of a larger national challenge, as Nigeria has an estimated 13.5 million out-of-school children. The North-East, where Gombe is situated, contributes a significant share to this national crisis, accounting for 15% of the total, or about 2 million children. These numbers highlight the extent of the educational deficit and the urgent need for intervention in the region.
This situation not only affects individual children but also poses broader societal and economic challenges. An uneducated population contributes less to national growth and development, with long-term consequences for the economy, security, and social cohesion.
The out-of-school children in Gombe State represent a microcosm of the larger educational challenges faced across Nigeria, particularly in the North-East. The region’s persistent educational gaps exacerbate poverty, gender inequality, and social unrest. Without proper access to quality education, these children face diminished prospects for future employment, increased vulnerability to exploitation, and limited ability to contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic development.
Recognizing the magnitude of this issue, Gombe State has committed to addressing the educational crisis through strategic initiatives. In response, the state has launched a 2025 Enrolment Drive Campaign, which aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 50% by 2030. The initiative involves a concerted effort from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and UNICEF, with local authorities tasked with enrolling at least 10,000 children per Local Government Area (LGA) for the 2025/2026 academic year. This statewide initiative aims to enroll a total of 110,000 children, a significant step toward narrowing the educational gap in the state.
Professor Maigari highlighted the urgency of addressing the out-of-school crisis: “We cannot sit and fold our arms while our children remain out of school. Every child will receive a quality education and also learn a trade, which does not necessarily mean working for the government.”
The crisis is deeply rooted in various socio-economic, cultural, and political factors. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022, the high out-of-school rates are driven by poverty, insecurity, and socio-cultural barriers that hinder access to quality education for many children, especially in northern regions.
The crisis is most acute in the North-East and North-West regions, which have the highest rates of out-of-school children in the country. Yobe State, in particular, leads with an alarming rate of 43.44%, followed by Taraba (41.52%) and Zamfara (41.13%). These figures highlight the severe educational deprivation in these regions, where factors such as insurgency, poverty, and lack of infrastructure impede children’s ability to attend school.
In contrast, southern states such as Lagos (10.20%) and Anambra (15.28%) report significantly lower out-of-school rates, reflecting better access to education, more developed infrastructure, and relatively lower poverty levels. These disparities underscore the regional imbalances in educational access and quality across the country.
The Child Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for Gombe State reveals that over 95% of children live in poverty. This extreme level of poverty exacerbates the barriers to education, as families struggling with basic survival needs often cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or transportation costs. The pervasive poverty, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas, significantly contributes to the high rates of out-of-school children.
Gombe’s high out-of-school rates are also tied to insecurity. The region has faced over a decade of conflict due to Boko Haram’s insurgency, resulting in the displacement of over one million children and the destruction of educational infrastructure. UNICEF reports that more than 300,000 children have been killed, and 113 schools in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states were closed due to insecurity between 2022 and 2023. A resident, Blessing Ogochukwu, echoed this concern, stating, “Most children are not in school because of insecurity. As a mother, I cannot endanger my children’s lives because of education. I value their lives more than anything.”
Poverty is not the only challenge. Over 60% of Nigerians live in poverty, with the North-East and North-West regions reporting child poverty rates of 90%. Many parents cannot afford to forgo their children’s labour, which is often seen as a survival mechanism. A 2025 study in Gombe Local Government Area found that 74.67% of respondents reported children engaged in work, with 56.20% experiencing child trafficking within households. Children are frequently found working in markets, farms, or as street hawkers, depriving them of education. A resident noted, “Parents use their children as sources of income, making them hawk on the street to feed the family.”
Parental ignorance and cultural practices also play a role. Timi, another resident, argued, “Why children are out of school is because of the ignorance and illiteracy of their parents. They don’t know the value of education.” Low parental education levels, particularly among mothers, have been shown to negatively impact school attendance. Additionally, child marriage is prevalent, with 81% of women aged 20-24 in Nigeria who were married before 18 having no education, compared to 19% with secondary education.
Gombe’s 2025 Enrolment Drive Campaign, launched in collaboration with UBEC and UNICEF, adopts a holistic strategy to address these challenges. The campaign focuses on community mobilisation, data-driven policies, and infrastructure investment. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has signed a Framework of Action to tackle the out-of-school crisis, emphasising political engagement, best practices, and technology to improve access to quality learning. The state has also established model Tsangaya and bilingual schools in each LGA to integrate Almajiri children into formal education systems.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described the situation as “alarming” and stressed, “Every child has the right to be in school, to receive quality education, and grow into a productive citizen of society.” UNICEF’s support includes promoting safe schools and providing learning materials, such as exercise books and school bags, to reduce financial barriers for families.
Despite Nigeria’s national education budget of 7.2% falling short of UNESCO’s recommended 15-20%, Gombe has made significant strides. The government’s provision of free education and materials aims to alleviate poverty-related barriers, while community leaders, including the Emir of Gona, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, have pledged to mobilise parents.
The ongoing efforts in Gombe State reflect a broader national initiative to tackle the education crisis in Nigeria. In 2023, the World Bank approved a $700 million loan aimed at empowering adolescent girls and bridging the education gap. This initiative, known as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), will scale up educational opportunities for girls across several states, including Gombe. Additionally, the Federal Government of Nigeria has committed to increasing domestic education expenditure by 50% by 2025, signalling a national prioritization of educational reforms.
However, challenges remain despite these investments. Issues such as the lack of transparency in fund disbursement and weak infrastructure persist, hindering the effectiveness of these initiatives. It is essential that these challenges are addressed to ensure the successful implementation of the national and state-level education plans.
One promising intervention that Gombe could adopt is the school feeding program, which has shown positive outcomes in other Nigerian states like Adamawa and Bauchi. These programs have led to increased school attendance and improved educational outcomes, and a similar initiative in Gombe could complement the legal enforcement strategies already in place.
Furthermore, addressing the rampant issues of child labour and trafficking in the state requires strengthened enforcement of existing laws, such as the Child Rights Act, and more robust grassroots awareness programs. These interventions are critical for ensuring that children are not exploited and have access to education, thus improving the overall educational environment.
While Gombe’s campaign to reduce the number of out-of-school children by 50% by 2030 is ambitious, it is achievable with sustained collaboration among various stakeholders. The success of this initiative depends on tackling the root causes of educational disparities, including insecurity, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure.
