By Muhammad Mamman
Governors from northern Nigeria have raised alarm over what they described as a deepening education crisis in the region, calling for immediate and coordinated action to avert long-term social and economic consequences.
The governors, who met under the auspices of the Northern Governors’ Forum, expressed concern over persistently high numbers of out-of-school children, poor learning outcomes and dilapidated school infrastructure across many northern states. They warned that failure to address the situation urgently could undermine national development and security.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the governors urged the Federal Government to prioritise education intervention programmes in the North, while also pledging to strengthen state-level reforms. They emphasised the need for increased funding, improved teacher recruitment and training, and stronger enforcement of compulsory basic education laws.
The forum also highlighted the impact of insecurity, poverty and displacement on school enrolment, noting that many children—particularly in rural and conflict-affected communities—remain excluded from formal education. According to the governors, tackling these challenges requires collaboration between federal and state authorities, traditional institutions, development partners and local communities.
They further called for a review and expansion of existing initiatives aimed at integrating Qur’anic and informal education systems into mainstream schooling, in order to ensure wider access and better learning standards.
Reaffirming their commitment, the governors said education must be treated as an emergency and a top governance priority, stressing that sustainable peace and economic growth in northern Nigeria depend largely on fixing the region’s education deficit.
