In a move to confront the staggering number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria, Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Muhammadu Yahaya, has called for a unified and urgent response to the region’s education crisis. Speaking in Dutse, Jigawa State, at the 12th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture, Yahaya warned that the future of the North hinges on its ability to provide equitable, quality basic education for all.
The lecture, held on January 20, 2026, focused on the theme “Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria: A Time for Real Action.” It served as a tribute to the legacy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, whose vision for the region emphasized education as the bedrock of prosperity. Yahaya noted that the most meaningful way to honor past leaders is to move beyond lamentation and embrace purposeful, results-driven governance.
The statistics remain a heavy burden for the region. Nigeria currently has over 18 million out-of-school children, and roughly 70 percent of them are in the North. literacy rates in some northern states have dipped below 30 percent, with girl-child school attendance reaching worryingly low levels. The Governor emphasized that these figures must remain the top priority for every leader in the region.
To tackle these challenges, the Northern Governors are working closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and international partners to expand classroom access and train teachers. A key part of this strategy is the newly established Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund. This initiative is designed to provide sustainable funding to protect schools from the insecurity that has frequently disrupted learning across the region.
Governor Yahaya also highlighted the progress made within Gombe State as a potential roadmap for others. Since declaring a state of emergency on education, his administration has rolled out a N13.5 billion School Improvement Grant and successfully enrolled approximately 450,000 out-of-school children. By investing in special needs schools and covering examination fees for secondary students, the state is making a visible dent in the educational deficit.
The fight for education is not one the government can win alone. Yahaya stressed that parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the private sector must all see themselves as stakeholders in this mission. He also announced structural reforms within the Governors’ Forum, including a revitalized secretariat led by Director-General Ezekiel Gomos, to ensure a more coordinated voice for Northern development.
As the event concluded with the 2026 Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Awards, the message was clear: the North cannot afford to wait. The link between educational neglect and the rise of insecurity is undeniable, making the push for classroom enrollment a matter of national survival.
