Adamawa Partners UNICEF, ECW to Return Thousands of Out-of-School Children to Classrooms

By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

The Adamawa State Government has launched a major initiative in partnership with UNICEF and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to tackle the rising number of out-of-school children and expand access to quality education across the state.

The programme, unveiled at a media briefing in Yola, is part of an ECW-supported intervention targeting thousands of vulnerable children affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty. It aims to boost school enrolment, improve retention, and enhance learning outcomes in underserved communities.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nushad Rafiq, stressed that every child has a fundamental right to education, as well as access to essential services such as birth registration, vaccination, and proper nutrition.

She disclosed that the initiative, which began in December 2024, will run until December 2027, focusing on hard-to-reach areas where access to education remains limited.

Dr. Rafiq also expressed concern over the high number of children engaged in street begging and hawking—particularly girls—highlighting the urgent need to integrate them into formal schooling and ensure they remain in school.

In his remarks, UNICEF Education Specialist Abdulrahman Ado noted that Adamawa is one of three states selected for the programme, alongside Borno and Yobe, due to the prolonged impact of insurgency on education in the region.

He explained that the intervention is designed to promote inclusive and equitable access to education while improving the quality of learning, especially for children in conflict-affected areas.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Murtala Umar Babayi, who represented the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Garba Pella, said the initiative aligns with the state government’s education priorities.

According to him, the briefing was aimed at outlining key challenges, clarifying stakeholder roles, and demonstrating how the programme supports government policies and strategic objectives.

The partnership between the Adamawa State Government, UNICEF, and ECW is expected to significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children, ensuring that every child—regardless of background—has access to inclusive and quality education.