Nigeria TV Info – Education News

UNICEF: Over 300,000 Children Out of School in Katsina State, 16% of Nigeria’s Total Out-of-School Children Concentrated in Three Northern States

Kano, Nigeria – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised fresh concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria, revealing that no fewer than 300,000 children are currently out of school in Katsina State alone.

The disclosure was made by Rahama Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, during the official unveiling of the Nigerian Child 2025 Report at an event commemorating World Children’s Day in Kano.

The event was organised by the Kano State Radio Corporation in collaboration with UNICEF and attended by journalists from Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa States.

According to the 2025 report, Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa account for a combined 16% of Nigeria’s estimated 10.2 million out-of-school children—one of the highest figures globally.

Farah noted that:

Katsina State has over 300,000 out-of-school children

Kano State has nearly 900,000

Jigawa State records more than 330,000

“These three states together account for 16 per cent of Nigeria’s 10.2 million out-of-school children,” he said. “Katsina alone has over 300,000 children out of school, Kano nearly 900,000 and Jigawa more than 330,000.”

Beyond education, the UNICEF report also highlights troubling nutrition statistics in the region. Citing the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2024), Farah revealed high levels of child stunting:

Katsina – 64.6%

Kano – 51.9%

Jigawa – 55.7%

He warned that the combination of poor schooling access and widespread malnutrition poses a major risk to the future development and productivity of children in these states.

UNICEF called for urgent government action, stronger community involvement, and sustained investment in education and child welfare to reverse the disturbing trend.