Minister of Education Says Nigeria Needs $345 Million Annually to Reintegrate 15 Million Out-of-School Children
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that Nigeria requires at least $345 million (approximately ₦540 billion) every year for the next decade to bring 15 million out-of-school children into the formal education system.
Dr. Alausa made the announcement during a high-level briefing, warning that the out-of-school children crisis has escalated from a social issue into a serious threat to Nigeria’s long-term economic and digital development.
UNESCO and Ministry of Education data indicate that Nigeria currently has one of the world’s largest populations of children not enrolled in any learning institution. The challenge is most severe in Northern Nigeria, though urban centres in the South are increasingly affected due to internal displacement and economic hardship.
To address the crisis, the Ministry unveiled a $3.4 billion, 10-year plan, dubbed the Renewed Hope strategy, aiming to achieve zero out-of-school children by 2035. The plan allocates $150 million annually for building and renovating classrooms, $100 million for teacher recruitment and training in digital-age literacy and numeracy, and $95 million for school feeding programs and conditional cash transfers to support low-income families.
Dr. Alausa stressed that failing to invest now could have severe consequences. “If we fail to formalise this education, the cost of social insecurity and lost GDP in ten years will be ten times what we are asking for today,” he said.
The minister called for public-private partnerships, urging the private sector and international development organisations, including the World Bank and Global Partnership for Education, to help bridge the funding gap.
Education experts note that reintegrating these children is critical not only to uphold their right to education and development but also to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital and secure sustainable economic growth.
