Out-of-School Crisis Deepens: 18.2 Million Nigerian Children Denied Right to Development, Expert Warns

OSAOSEMWEN LUCKYMarch 18, 2026

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A teacher gives lessons to the children of cocoa producers in a classroom without electricity at the Public Primary School in the village of Koffikro near Betykro, a settlement of cocoa producers living in precarious conditions 20 km from Guiglo, on January 16, 2026. currently faces major difficulties in selling its cocoa, hit by a slowdown in exports amid buyers' liquidity problems and a drop in global prices. For growers who were already battling to eke out a living, the situation has only added to their plight. In its last report on the sector in 2019, the World Bank estimated that more than half (54.9 percent) of cocoa producers lived on less than 757 CFA francs ($1.36) a day. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP via Getty Images)

A leading communication expert has sounded the alarm on the serious consequences of Nigeria’s failure to educate its growing population of children, linking the crisis to widespread denial of the fundamental right to education.

Speaking at a regional workshop for journalists on ethical reporting of children, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with UNICEF in Gombe, Geoffrey Njoku highlighted that Nigeria currently has 18.2 million out-of-school children, a number larger than the entire populations of neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin.

Njoku stressed that education is not merely a social service but a core pillar for national development and the protection of children’s rights. Denying children access to learning opportunities undermines their personal development, limits future economic participation, and perpetuates cycles of poverty and social instability.

The expert warned that such neglect also erodes governance, as selective enforcement of laws, including those meant to guarantee children’s rights, undermines public trust and equitable access to opportunities.

The right to education is inseparable from broader development and protection frameworks. Ensuring that every child has access to school is essential for fostering equality, safeguarding potential, and securing long-term national stability.

Njoku urged policymakers, communities, and stakeholders to take urgent, coordinated action to bring out-of-school children into learning environments and ensure that laws protecting children’s rights are fully and fairly implemented.

The workshop highlighted the ethical responsibility of journalists to report on children with accuracy and sensitivity, raising awareness of these pressing issues while advocating for systemic solutions that uphold the child’s right to education and development.

This situation underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to prioritize education as a fundamental child right, not merely a policy option.