Zamfara State Government Invites Stakeholders to Tackle Out-of-School Children Issue

The government of Zamfara State has issued a call for collaboration with various stakeholders to tackle the ongoing crisis of out-of-school children prevalent in the state.

During a meeting held on Wednesday, Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government (SSG), made this appeal to a joint delegation comprising representatives from the National Home-grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (CGIAR).

The delegation included Ms. Aisha Ololade (NHGSFP), Darline Raphael (WFP Nigeria Deputy Head of Programme), and Dr. Oliver Kiptoo Kirui (CGIAR Country Programme Leader), alongside other officials.

While addressing the attendees, the SSG emphasized the importance of education as a primary focus of Governor Dauda Lawal's administration. He reiterated that the state government is committed to addressing the out-of-school children crisis through deliberate actions.

He highlighted that following the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector, approximately 600 schools throughout the state have been renovated and provided with essential teaching and learning resources.

"Zamfara State is dedicated to not just enhancing student enrollment but also ensuring their retention until they complete their education," he remarked.

Nakwada added that maintaining student enrollment has been notably challenging without a feeding program in place, suggesting that enhanced partnerships and collaborations are vital in this area.

"We are focused on ensuring that no child is left behind in the educational system. We anticipate a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state as we implement our new strategies," he further stated.

According to data from Zamfara SUBEB and UNICEF, the state had about 455,947 out-of-school children in 2025. This figure reflects a substantial decline of 48.4% from 883,953 in 2022, attributed largely to the focused efforts of Governor Lawal's administration to revamp the state's education sector.

In July 2025, the administration initiated a school feeding program, developed in partnership with the International Centre for Economic Development and the FINPACT Development Foundation, aimed at benefiting nearly 4,300 students in selected pilot schools across Zamfara.

The objective of this program is to enhance school enrollment, maintain student attendance, and ultimately reduce the number of children living on the streets.

During her address, WFP's Deputy Head of Programme, Darline Raphael, commended Governor Lawal for his commitment to education, particularly emphasizing support for girls' education. She expressed confidence that the state’s resolve and political will could soon position Zamfara as a leading example for school feeding initiatives across Nigeria.