The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed worry over the learning gap among children in Nigeria.
The UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere said only one in every four schoolchildren in the Nigeria can read properly and solve basic mathematics at age 14.
She said this during media dialogue in Ede, Osun State on Wednesday, organised by Osun State Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNICEF, on Digital Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Skill Development for Out of School Children in the country.
The programme was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, SUBEBs, LGEAs, the World Bank, Education Cannot Wait, Global Partnership for Education, Microsoft, Airtel, IHS Towers, TECNO, SONY and other development partners.
Celine said the data highlights a deep learning crisis affecting children already in school, warning that millions more remain completely excluded from education, particularly girls.
She called all stakeholders in the country to take actions to address the challenges so to guarantee a better future for Nigerian children.
Her words “I want to start with one number, one in four. Of all the children in Nigeria who actually go to school, only one in four can read properly and do basic math at age 14″.
“These are not numbers in government reports. These are real children growing up without the skills they need to survive, get jobs, support families or contribute to the economy,” she said.
Celine warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and digital technology could worsen inequality if urgent action is not taken to improve access to quality education and digital skills.
According to her, “The children who know how to use this technology will have a chance. The ones who don’t will be left behind. I want to start with one number — one in four. Of all the children in Nigeria who actually go to school, only one in four can read properly and do basic math at age 14”.
“These are not numbers in government reports. These are real children growing up without the skills they need to survive, get jobs, support families or contribute to the economy,” she said.
Celine warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and digital technology could worsen inequality if urgent action is not taken to improve access to quality education and digital skills, saying that only children who know how to use this technology will have a chance while others will be left behind.
In his presentation, Harold Kpojime, UNICEF Education Specialist, said Nigeria now has an estimated 20 million out-of-school children, one of the highest figures globally.
Kpojime added said one in every three primary school-age children is currently out of school, warning that the challenge goes beyond enrolment to retention and completion.
On the objective of the media dialogue, Blessings Ejiofor, UNICEF Communication Officer, said the it was aimed at equipping journalists with relevant information and data on the state out out of school children in Nigeria and strengthening media advocacy on education challenges and promoting awareness of digital learning solutions.
The Osun State Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Murtala Jimoh said digital technology and artificial intelligence offer opportunities to bridge learning gaps and improve education outcomes.
He noted that insecurity, poverty and migration continue to drive the number of out-of-school children. He commended UNICEF for supporting Osun State Government to tackle the challenges.
He said the state government, in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders, has introduced interventions such as back-to-school programmes and digital learning initiatives to reduce exclusion.
