The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has declared that Nigeria is now better positioned to decisively confront the longstanding challenge of Almajiri and out-of-school children across the country.
Alausa made the assertion on Sunday while addressing the Committee of States Commissioners of Education in Nigeria during a peer-learning webinar aimed at advancing coordinated education reforms nationwide.
The minister described the initiative as timely and aligned with national education priorities, stressing that stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national governments remains critical to sustainably reducing the number of out-of-school children.
“Reducing out-of-school children requires shared accountability, harmonised implementation frameworks, and evidence-based planning across all tiers of government,” he said.
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with previous estimates from international agencies placing the figure in the millions, particularly in northern states where the Almajiri system remains prevalent.
The Almajiri system, historically rooted in Islamic education, has over time been associated with street begging and vulnerability among children due to weak regulation and inadequate integration into formal education structures.
Alausa attributed the improved outlook to the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, describing it as a strategic institutional response to a decades-long challenge.
He noted that the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, brings both lived experience and administrative capacity to the role, having risen from an Almajiri background to earn a PhD and previously serving as Commissioner for Education in Yobe State.
“Today, the issue of Almajiri and out-of-school children—the work starts in the states—and I am happy with the renewed interest we are seeing in each of our states in putting strategies together to tackle the burden,” the minister said.
“Today, the country is better positioned to manage and aggressively tackle this problem once and for all in a very strategic, futuristic, and sustainable manner.”
He also commended the structured reform engagements championed by COSCEN under its Chairman, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, noting that institutionalised peer learning would strengthen policy coherence and accelerate measurable progress in access and equity nationwide.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank COSCEN Chairman, Dr. Olohungbebe, for his work. I know you now have a functioning secretariat at the INEC office, and I want you to make good use of it,” Alausa added.
Chairman of COSCEN and Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, said the initiative signals a shift from consultative dialogue to results-oriented coordination anchored on data, peer accountability, and policy harmonisation.
“This platform moves us beyond discussions to structured solution sharing that aligns state innovations with federal frameworks, ensuring our complementary mandates deliver measurable outcomes for children,” Olohungbebe said.
The committee hosted its maiden webinar spotlighting reforms in Gombe State with the theme: “Gombe Strategy in Addressing Out-of-School Children: Innovative Models, Measurable Results and Scalable Options.”
According to the National Coordinator, Dr. Leo Ebenezer, the virtual session advanced COSCEN’s peer-learning agenda and promoted coordinated reforms aimed at effectively addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school challenge.
The Commissioner for Education in Gombe State, Aishatu Umar Maigari, presented data-driven interventions credited with improved enrolment outcomes and scalable models adaptable across Nigeria’s diverse education systems.
Education stakeholders say sustained funding, accurate data tracking, community engagement, and curriculum integration remain critical to ending the Almajiri and out-of-school crisis, which has long been linked to poverty, insecurity, and youth unemployment.
