A jointly funded education programme supported by the European Union and state governments is set to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
Speaking on Tuesday at a high-level media dialogue on education reform, the Executive Chairman of Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Umar Tambuwal, described the collaboration as a practical response to the region’s persistent education challenges.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with UNICEF to strengthen Early Childhood Education as a long-term strategy for improving enrolment, retention and completion rates across the North-West.
Tambuwal said early childhood education remains the foundation for lifelong learning and plays a critical role in preventing school dropouts.
“When we invest in the early years, we are preventing future learning gaps and reducing the risk of children dropping out of school.
“This is why the partnership between the European Union and our state governments is so important,” Tambuwal stated.
Under the programme, more than 160 Early Childhood Care Development centres received teaching and learning materials between 2024 and 2025, with plans to expand support to additional centres.
The intervention also includes teacher training, improved infrastructure and digital data systems to track enrolment and identify out-of-school children across the three states.
Education authorities said the state governments are complementing EU funding with budgetary allocations aimed at upgrading facilities, recruiting qualified teachers and strengthening monitoring mechanisms.
The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Sokoto, Michael Juma, said the programme prioritises system strengthening and sustainability.
“This is not just about expanding classrooms; it is about building strong education systems that can track children, support teachers and ensure seamless transition from early childhood education to primary school,” he said.
Officials from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states also highlighted the role of traditional leaders, community groups and the media in mobilising parents to enrol their children in school.
Stakeholders expressed confidence that sustained joint funding and coordinated implementation would significantly improve access to quality early learning and reduce the burden of out-of-school children across the three states.
