Northern Governors Move to Tackle Out-of-School Children Challenge

• The Northern States Governors’ Forum is committed to collaborating with the Islamic Development Bank to address the issues of out-of-school children and Almajiri
• Governor Yahaya emphasized the alarming rates of educational exclusion and plans to utilize the IsDB’s SMART Education project for improvement

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the high rate of out-of-school children and the Almajiri phenomenon in the region by developing a comprehensive strategy in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

This commitment was highlighted during a meeting between Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, and a delegation from the IsDB, led by the Bank’s Country Representative, Dr. Hasanul Kibria.

Governor Yahaya expressed the deep concern of Northern states regarding the alarming rates of educational exclusion, especially among Almajiri children. He emphasized that the states would utilize the IsDB’s SMART Education project to expand education access, improve quality, and enhance learning outcomes across the region.

“The states in the North are disturbed by the increasing rates of educational exclusion, and we are committed to working with development partners like the Islamic Development Bank to address this menace,” Governor Yahaya said.

He also highlighted Gombe State’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Almajiri system by integrating formal education with Islamic teachings, improving infrastructure, and enhancing teacher capacity to bring out-of-school children back to the classroom and better serve those in Tsangaya schools.

The NSGF Chairman, through a statement released by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs at the Government House, announced that the Northern Governors’ Forum would soon convene an expanded meeting with key stakeholders to prioritize the issue of out-of-school children.

Governor Yahaya praised the IsDB for its educational contributions and called for expanded collaboration in other areas, including agriculture, animal husbandry, livelihood support, and human capital development. He also cited Gombe’s strategic location and favourable business environment as an attractive destination for investment.

Dr. Hasanul Kibria, representing the IsDB, elaborated on the Bank’s SMART Education initiative, co-financed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and supported by other Arab development institutions. He explained that the project addresses the urgent educational needs of states with high rates of out-of-school children, particularly in Northern Nigeria.