Vice President Kashim Shettima has sounded the alarm, describing the escalating number of out-of-school children across Nigeria as a “national emergency.” He insists that resolving this crisis requires unified and sustained action from all tiers of government, community stakeholders, and the private sector.
Speaking in Abuja at the 2025 Nigeria Education Forum (NEF)—an event organized by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and other partners—Shettima argued forcefully that government efforts alone cannot solve the profound crisis gripping the education sector.
“The millions of out-of-school children represent a national emergency requiring joint action by the federal government, the states, local governments and community stakeholders,” the Vice President, who was represented by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, stated.
Funding and Implementation Gaps
Shettima stressed that for Nigeria to achieve meaningful learning outcomes, teachers must receive proper training, welfare, and professional recognition. He also called for the expansion of technical and vocational education to equip young people with the market-ready skills essential for national development.
While noting that the federal government has significantly increased investments in education, raising allocations from N1.54 trillion in 2023 to N3.52 trillion in 2025, the funding gap remains too large for the government to shoulder alone. He cited notable increases in allocations to TETFUND, UBEC, and NELFUND, alongside the disbursement of N86.3 billion to over 450,000 tertiary students under the student loan scheme.
However, he strongly insisted that building a resilient education system requires co-investment from the private sector, industry leaders, alumni associations, philanthropists, and local communities.
Governors Warn of Budget Overhaul
In his welcome address, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, warned that Nigeria must urgently overhaul both its education financing and delivery systems to secure the future of the nation.
AbdulRazaq highlighted that with a population where 43% is under 14 and another 33% falls between 15 and 24, the country simply cannot afford underinvestment in education. He noted that national education spending currently stands at a meager 3% of GDP, falling far below the global benchmark of 4–6%.
While states have collectively increased their education budgets dramatically—from N1 trillion in 2022 to a projected N3.6 trillion in 2025—the Governor issued a stern warning: poor implementation continues to undermine progress. He disclosed that in 2024, only 67% of budgeted funds were utilized, leaving a massive N800 billion execution gap.
The NGF Chairman cited Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Katsina, and Abia as states projected to allocate a combined N1.8 trillion to education in 2026, with several meeting or surpassing the 15% global benchmark. Yet, he cautioned that debt servicing in some states still tragically exceeds their total education spending.
