UBEC Partners Traditional Rulers to Tackle Out-of-School Crisis

In an effort to address Nigeria’s escalating out-of-school children crisis, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has forged an alliance with traditional and religious leaders. According to a report by Punch Newspapers, the partnership aims to ensure that more children, particularly those in rural areas, have access to quality education. The collaboration is expected to leverage the influence and reach of traditional rulers to identify and enroll out-of-school children into schools. This partnership is crucial, given that about 10.5 million children are out of school, with the majority residing in the Northern parts of Nigeria. The out-of-school children crisis not only denies children their fundamental right to education but also perpetuates poverty and social inequality. This development comes at a time when the Nigerian government is under increasing pressure to improve the quality and accessibility of education in the country. While UBEC has not specified the details of the partnership, the commission has expressed optimism that the collaboration will lead to a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The commission’s initiative underscores the importance of community engagement in solving education challenges. The partnership with traditional rulers is a testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their location, has access to quality education.