The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to collaborate with the NEEM Foundation to reduce the number of out-of-school children and promote strong value systems in the country’s education sector.
This was revealed by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, during NEEM Foundation’s courtesy visit on July 4, 2025, in Abuja. She confirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with NEEM to implement learning strategies that address early pregnancies and economic hardship affecting school attendance.
According to Professor Ahmed, “There are over 15 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, and 60% of them are girls. When a mother is not educated, the future of the child is at risk.” She further stressed that integrating value systems into teacher training is crucial. “Teachers with strong values can transfer those values to the students,” she added.
The Minister praised NEEM Foundation’s track record and promised the Ministry’s full support for initiatives targeting vulnerable groups and improving access to second-chance education.
Dr. Fatima Akilu, NEEM’s Executive Director, expressed gratitude for the support, stating that their programs focus on trauma recovery, value-based learning, and helping students prepare for major exams like WAEC, JAMB, and NECO. She shared success stories of girls who performed excellently after going through NEEM’s programs.
Also present, Ms. Minoe Duanwan, Senior Programme Officer, highlighted NEEM’s vocational training for women and efforts in Maiduguri to train teachers to embed value systems in classrooms.