Over eight million North-West children out of school – Shettima

Over Eight Million Children in Nigeria’s North-West Out of School, Says Vice President

KANO, Nigeria — President Kashim Shettima has announced that over eight million children in Nigeria’s North-West region are currently out of school, highlighting this statistic as a manifestation of the severe multidimensional poverty affecting the area.

Shettima made these remarks on Wednesday through Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin at the North-West Policy Dialogue. The event focused on strategies for reducing poverty through innovative financing and enhanced social protection systems.

The Vice President emphasized the North-West’s strategic importance in Nigeria’s development, citing its large population, economic potential, and youthful workforce. However, he noted that the region continues to grapple with significant challenges in education, healthcare, nutrition, and income security.

“The burden is grave,” Shettima said. “We inherited deprivations across health, education, nutrition, and income security; over eight million children are out of school; maternal mortality remains frighteningly high; under-five mortality is painful; and child stunting affects more than half of our children in some communities.”

Shettima urged a broader understanding of poverty, arguing that it is not merely a matter of income. He asserted that access to education, healthcare, food, and opportunities provides a more accurate depiction of deprivation.

“Poverty is the child who cannot read at ten, the mother who approaches childbirth with fear, the household unsure of tomorrow’s food, and the young mind outside the classroom while the world races toward artificial intelligence and a knowledge economy,” he stated.

The Vice President reiterated the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening social protection programs aimed at assisting vulnerable households and mitigating the effects of poverty and economic instability.

Shettima also proposed the introduction of a Universal Child Benefit scheme, arguing that such a measure could enhance child nutrition, improve school enrollment, and reduce child labor and early marriage.

“The child is the most honest measure of any society. When a child is hungry, the future is hungry; when a child is out of school, the nation is out of position,” he added.

He called upon governors, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to shift from mere policy discussions to practical interventions that would enhance the welfare of children and vulnerable families throughout the North-West.

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