28 Million Nigerian Children and Adolescents Lack Access to Formal Schooling or Digital Learning Opportunities

Abuja, Nigeria — 26 January 2026 — Nigeria’s education sector is facing a “crisis of great magnitude” requiring the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, as more than 28 million Nigerian children and adolescents lack access to formal schooling or digital learning (UNICEF). This 2026 International Day of Education, Save the Children Nigeria is calling for stronger government investment in education, full implementation of the safe school declaration, and robust security measures to protect children and their learning environments. Without safe schools and an adequately funded education system, the potential of Nigeria’s young people, who make up over 60% of the population, remains constrained.

As the global community marks the 2026 International Day of Education, under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education”, Save the Children Nigeria draws urgent attention to the scale of Nigeria’s education crisis, while highlighting the critical leadership role young people must play in redesigning education systems. Young people must be recognised not just as beneficiaries, but as active co-creators of education 
systems, policies, and innovations. Their leadership is essential at a time when the education sector is strained by insecurity, learning poverty, teacher shortages, low retention rates, and a rapidly widening digital divide.
 

We encourage young people to be active partners in shaping educational systems, policies, and innovations, rather than acting as passive recipients. Insecurity, learning poverty, teacher shortages, low retention rates, and a widening digital divide are challenges gripping Nigeria’s education system. Young people are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are strategic drivers of change today. Save the Children is committed to strengthening youth-led advocacy for Safe Schools implementation, promoting youth leadership in emergency education responses, and advancing skills development for adolescents affected by conflict and displacement. 

- Duncan Harvey, Country Director, Save the Children Nigeria

Nigeria is home to one of the largest youth populations in the world, with young people 
accounting for more than 60% of its total population. This year’s global theme stresses stronger youth participation in curriculum codesigns, school governance, and education innovation. 
 

“Nigeria cannot achieve inclusive and equitable quality education without placing young people at the centre—as leaders, cocreators, and innovators. Investing in youth agency is investing in the long term peace, stability, and prosperity of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.” 
 

— Godwin Lasisi, Youth Advocate and Ambassador, Africa Agenda 2063 

“Youths are co-creators of the education that shapes tomorrow, and education is strongest when young voices are not just heard, but trusted to build it.” 

- Safiyya Aji Kolo, Save the Children Girl Champion

Insecurity continues to impede learning, particularly in the North-East and North-West Nigeria,where attacks on schools, mass abductions, and community displacement remain widespread. Which undermines the efforts of government and partners in improving quality of education, especially for the vulnerable ones. In line with this year’s theme, “The Power of Youth in Cocreating Education,” equipping and supporting young people to contribute to safety solutions, strengthen community resilience, and advocate for safer schools is essential, as it enables them to become key partners in keeping learning alive despite insecurity.
 

We urge government, partners, and stakeholders to:
1. Fully implement the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools 
at both the federal and state levels
2. Integrate youth voices at all levels of education governance, ensuring active 
participation in reform processes.
3. Invest in technology, innovation, and digital inclusion, especially as Nigeria’s rapidly 
growing youth population demands 21st-century skills.
4. Expand safe, disability-inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments, 
particularly in underserved and insecure regions.
5. Fund youth-led solutions, recognising their creativity, leadership, and lived experiences.
 

END

About Save the Children
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children, delivering lasting change for millions of children, including in Nigeria, since 2001. Save the Children delivers programmes in education, health, child protection, social protection,  humanitarian response, and child rights governance.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mogbonjubade Adesulure
Digital Media and Communication Specialist, Save the Children Nigeria
Email: mogbonjubade.adesulure@savethechildren.org