The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on traditional rulers in Adamawa State and across the North East to take an active role in the fight against the growing number of out-of-school children, especially girls.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday in Yola, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, revealed that over 80 million school-age children in Nigeria remain out of school, according to recent data.
Dr. Rafique emphasized the urgency of the crisis, noting that many parents still do not understand the importance of education, especially in rural communities. She stressed that traditional rulers, being close to the grassroots, are well-positioned to influence community attitudes toward school enrolment and retention.
“Education is a right, not a privilege,” she said. “We must ensure that every child — especially the girl child — receives quality education in a safe and supportive environment.”
The meeting aimed to develop collaborative strategies to improve access to education, raise awareness, and align traditional institutions with state and donor-driven efforts to combat the out-of-school problem.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr. Raphael Aiyedipe, explained that the goal of the meeting was to deepen the involvement of traditional leaders in increasing enrolment, retention, and successful transition of children through the education system.
He added that the initiative would also strengthen cooperation between community institutions and government bodies to jointly address the educational crisis.
In his remarks, Adamawa State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Pella, applauded UNICEF for its support and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to educational reform. He announced plans to introduce a law mandating parents to enrol their children in school, a move aimed at tackling the high dropout rate.
Dr. Pella also acknowledged that insecurity in the North East had worsened school attendance and eroded parental confidence in formal education. He urged parents to see schooling as a pathway to reducing youth involvement in crime and insurgency.
Representing the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Mustapha, the District Head of Karewa, Barrister Musa Abdu, assured the gathering that traditional rulers would fully support education-focused initiatives in the state.
“We are committed to championing educational development,” he said. “The role of traditional rulers goes beyond culture — we must also serve as advocates for the future of our children.”
The meeting closed with a renewed pledge from all stakeholders to make quality education accessible and to work collectively toward eliminating the barriers that keep children — especially girls — out of school in the region.
