The Federal Government has announced plans to carry out a fresh nationwide assessment of out-of-school children as part of efforts to obtain accurate data on the number of Nigerian children currently outside the formal education system.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Wednesday during the 2026 Annual Education Summit of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) held in Abuja.
According to the minister, the exercise will be conducted in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) through a comprehensive household survey across the country.
He said the initiative became necessary because existing figures being used to measure the scale of the problem may no longer reflect the current situation on the ground.
Alausa noted that the Federal Government wants reliable and verifiable data that will support policy formulation and help authorities direct resources to communities where educational challenges are most severe.
He explained that the survey would provide a clearer picture of the number of children currently out of school, their locations and the factors responsible for keeping them away from classrooms.
The minister acknowledged that estimates of out-of-school children in Nigeria vary widely, with figures often ranging between 15 million and 20 million. He stressed that the government intends to move away from assumptions and rely on evidence-based statistics to tackle the challenge more effectively.
He further revealed that over one million out-of-school children had been returned to classrooms within the last two years through various interventions.
However, he maintained that obtaining accurate data remains essential for measuring progress and identifying areas requiring urgent attention.
Alausa said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to using credible data to guide decision-making across sectors, including education. He added that accurate information would also enable citizens, stakeholders and the media to hold public officials accountable for their performance.
The minister urged journalists covering the education sector to embrace deeper and more investigative reporting. According to him, the media should focus not only on official events but also on monitoring policies, exposing gaps and tracking the impact of government programmes through verifiable evidence.
He stated that responsible journalism supported by credible data could contribute significantly to improving educational outcomes and strengthening public trust in government initiatives.
Speaking on reforms currently underway, Alausa highlighted efforts being implemented under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These include investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, digital transformation, quality assurance measures, improved governance and broader access to learning opportunities.
The minister also pointed to what he described as growing stability within the tertiary education sector. He said universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have recorded three consecutive years without major disruptions to academic activities, attributing the achievement to sustained engagement between government and education unions.
On global rankings, Alausa disclosed that Nigeria now has 24 universities among the world’s top 1,000 institutions, an increase from the previous figure of 21. He added that public universities currently occupy the country’s top four positions.
Also addressing participants at the summit, Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, called on journalists to support ongoing reforms through balanced and responsible reporting.
She said, “Education is the foundation upon which we build a productive economy, strengthen democratic institutions, reduce poverty and promote social cohesion.”
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality basic education regardless of location, background or economic status.
She stated, “The most important objective is that no child should be left behind. Regardless of background, location or income level, every child must have access to quality education.”
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Grace Ike, urged stakeholders to intensify efforts toward promoting accountability and public awareness in the education sector.
She said government agencies, parents, school administrators, policymakers and the media all have important roles to play in addressing challenges facing education in the country.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Media and Communication, Ikharo Attah, advocated evidence-driven journalism, stressing that credible reporting must be based on facts rather than assumptions.