It was Chibok (Borno), then Kankara (Katsina), then Kagara (Niger), then Kegere (Zamfara) and Afaka (Kaduna)

Following a wave of school closures in most part of Northern Nigeria between December of 2020 and March 2021 following an upsurge in kidnapping and abduction of students in different states such as katsina, Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states, Incentive Based Program (IBP) of Policy House International is extremely concerned that the number of out of school children will rise to 13 million by December of 2021 as against the 2019/2021 estimates of 10.5m by UNICEF. UNICEF had then stated that one of five of out of school children in the world is in Nigeria.

While other countries are doing everything to close the gap in number of out of school children in the society, the activities of Boko Haram, kidnappers and bandits is further deepening the Nigerian figures and this is particularly worrisome and pathetic for northern Nigeria that is already considered to be averagely an educationally dis- advantaged region of Nigeria.

From our records and estimates close to 800 students have been kidnapped between December of 2020 and March 2021. This has also resulted into the closure of boarding schools in at least three states over the period and available data shows that over 60 schools with at least an average of 600 students are affected by this sudden closures which has serious implication for academic stability, domestic finance, crime among adolescents, rising illiteracy in the region and security implications, drug, cultism and general crime. While the affected states have invested in basic infrastructure and school feeding, the general insecurity in the region has dampened educational enthusiasm among parents and children of school age.

We note for instance from media reports that on the 17th of February 2021, Niger State Government shut down all boarding schools in four local governments such as Rafi, Munya, Shiroro and Manga LGAs while on the 15th of December, Zamfara state government shut down 10 schools in towns sharing borders with Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto states following series of abductions of students during the period.
We call on the Nigerian Government to accelerate the implementation of the lofty educational intervention programs outlined under the Alternate School Program (ASP) earlier launched in January 2021 and also to call on the states government to fastrack its investment in perimeter fencing, local security arrangements and the deployment of technology in securing the schools. The 1st quarter 2021 estimates for the Nigerian educational system is not encouraging at the moment as government intervention in the area of security has not yielded the desired result and required target not met.

Finally, if this trend is not quickly tackled, Policy House International is worried that the gap between states in the north and the south education- wise will continue to widened this is because while the south is grappling with inadequate infrastructure to cater for ‘over enrolment’ so to speak in public schools in addition to the private schools, most states in the north are grappling with security for the few brave young kids of school age who have braced all odds to be in school, the implication is that while academic sessions are relatively stable in the south, it will take a generation for the children of same school age in the north to catch up.

Taiwo Akerele
Executive Director/Country Repr.
Incentive Based Program (Policy House Int’l

Number of out of school northern children ...please be specific


Another reason Igbos want their own country

Imagine a country where the least educated determine who rules and how governs

U expect development ?