On Monday, the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) hosted a one-day stakeholder forum to officially launch the 2025 Enrolment Drive Campaign, aimed at tackling the escalating number of children out of school within the state.
This initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), underscoring a united front in addressing educational challenges.
At the gathering held in Gombe, SUBEB Chairman Mr. Babaji Babadidi emphasized that the campaign’s primary goal is to raise awareness among parents, community members, and key stakeholders about the critical importance of enrolling children in school and ensuring their continued attendance.
He revealed that each of Gombe’s 11 local government areas (LGAs) has been assigned a minimum enrolment target of 10,000 pupils for the 2025/2026 academic year, culminating in a statewide goal of 110,000 new students.
“Every Local Government Area is tasked with enrolling at least 10,000 children for the upcoming academic session, which collectively amounts to 110,000 across the state,” Babadidi stated.
Highlighting government efforts, Babadidi noted ongoing improvements such as upgrading school facilities, enhancing teacher training programs, and distributing free uniforms and textbooks to incentivize enrolment.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Maigari, advocated for more ambitious targets, suggesting that the enrolment goal per LGA be doubled to 20,000, thereby raising the total target to 220,000 children.
Professor Maigari argued that such an assertive approach is essential to effectively combat the growing educational deficit and to meet international education benchmarks.
She further stressed the importance of addressing specific obstacles that disproportionately affect girls’ access to education.
According to her, policies must be implemented to create safer school environments, improve educational access in remote areas, and provide tailored support for children with disabilities.
Facilitating the meeting, Mohammed Kudi from UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office underscored the urgency of treating the out-of-school children crisis as a collective emergency requiring immediate and coordinated action.
Kudi pointed out that over 80% of school-age children across Nigeria face significant barriers to education, including poverty, entrenched cultural norms, insecurity, and inadequate infrastructure.
“In Gombe State alone, the number of out-of-school children has surged to 737,000, a staggering figure that demands the attention of all stakeholders,” he remarked, emphasizing that success hinges not only on enrolment but also on retention and completion rates.
The forum brought together traditional rulers, religious figures, educators, policymakers, and civil society representatives, all agreeing that reversing the trend requires a comprehensive, community-driven strategy.
Speakers called on community leaders to actively champion enrolment efforts, urged religious leaders to advocate for education within their congregations, and encouraged parents to prioritize schooling over child labor or early marriage.
Data from UNICEF and the World Bank reveal that Nigeria has the highest global number of out-of-school children, totaling approximately 13.5 million.
Within this context, Gombe State accounts for over 787,000 children out of school, representing roughly 13% of its population-a sharp increase from previous estimates of 500,000.
Experts warn that the state’s future development is closely tied to its ability to keep children in school, as high illiteracy rates, unemployment, and persistent poverty are linked to the current educational crisis, with broader implications for security and economic growth.
The enrolment campaign will intensify in the lead-up to the new academic year, with outreach teams conducting door-to-door visits and engaging religious institutions to encourage parents to register their children.
Additional awareness efforts will include radio broadcasts, community forums, and market-based campaigns designed to mobilize public support and participation.
