The 36 State Governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and NewGlobe, have declared an education crisis in Nigeria, urging swift action to address widespread gaps in foundational learning.
This declaration came at the State-Level Workshop on Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children, held in Abuja on Thursday.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a persistent out-of-school children crisis.
The NGF highlighted that many children in primary school lack basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills essential for academic progression and broader cognitive development.
The workshop was designed to review policies and foster collaboration to tackle learning gaps and reduce the number of out-of-school children nationwide.
In his remarks, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said foundational skills are not just the end goal of education but critical pillars for achieving broader learning objectives, such as student retention and smooth academic transitions.
In a speech delivered by NGF Education Advisor, Leo The Great, the governor remarked, “Nigeria is facing an education crisis. Many children are out of school, and even for those enrolled, attendance does not guarantee learning outcomes.
“Across states, children in primary school often do not have the foundational literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional competencies required to succeed in more advanced subjects and learning levels.
“Foundational skills are not just goals but the building blocks for achieving sustained academic progression.”
He noted that national data indicates a 66% rate of out-of-school children among the primary school-age population. Poor educational quality contributes to high dropout rates and low transition and completion rates across the system.
The NGF Chairman added, “We, as key stakeholders in the education ecosystem, are now prioritising the delivery of quality foundational learning using globally validated methods and tools.”
Highlighting further challenges, the Kwara State Governor raised concerns over the insufficient and undervalued education workforce.
He said, “Basic education and national governance in Nigeria face critical underfunding. There is a lack of targeted training, inadequate access to learning materials, and limited familiarity with modern research and digital literacy practices.
“Other issues include weak local capacity for monitoring and evaluating learning programs, low community support for foundational skills training, and limited commitment from both state and non-state actors.”
The NGF stressed the importance of tracking learner progress and reiterated that foundational education must be a priority at the state level.
He added, “This workshop is expected to inspire federal and state decision-makers to adopt and sustain evidence-based reforms that can improve foundational learning and reduce the out-of-school population.”
The NGF pledged support for state efforts through capacity building, policy alignment, and increased public-private education funding.
UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba, represented by Deputy Secretary, Technical, Rasaq Akinyemi, acknowledged systemic barriers but urged the nation to build on its progress and uphold every child’s right to quality education.
She said, “Basic education remains central to national development. We must improve the quality of teaching to ensure that children receive the learning they deserve.”
“Today’s gathering responds to a national crisis—millions of Nigerian children are out of school, and many parents lack the education and skills to live productive lives. These problems are structural and long-standing.”
Garba noted that with support from the World Bank and other partners, the federal government has launched multi-million-dollar programs to bridge learning gaps and strengthen basic education delivery at the state level.
She added, “Several states have begun implementing community-based programs to tackle foundational learning issues.
Others are introducing innovative solutions in energy, health, and education to support students better.
“We must build on this momentum and ensure no child is left behind.”
Garba described the event as a platform for policy coordination, peer learning, and institutional dialogue.
NewGlobe’s Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, acknowledged progress in expanding access to education but stressed that learning outcomes remain poor.
“While more children are in classrooms, the learning crisis persists, especially in rural areas,” she said.
“Too many children, even those in Primary 6, struggle with basic literacy and numeracy. The crisis is no longer just about access, but whether actual learning is happening. The system is failing millions of students.”
She noted, “If a child can’t read by age 10, they are four times more likely to drop out. A dropout is more likely to fall into cycles of poverty, unemployment, or exploitation.”
