The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, has called on leaders across the northern region to set aside political interests and design a unified development plan to combat the rising numbers of out-of-school children across the country.
Speaking on Saturday at an event organised by the Gombe State Chapter of the Barewa Old Boys’ Association, Yahaya stressed that an estimated 18 million Nigerian children are currently excluded from formal schooling, with the northern region holding the highest share. He warned that handling the problem through separate, uncoordinated state policies would not resolve what has become a serious threat to national security and regional development, according to Punch.
Yahaya pointed out that poverty, armed conflicts, inadequate school facilities, and social inequality continue to deny young citizens an education. He stated that military actions alone cannot secure peace without strategic investments in education, job creation, and human capital. In his address, he urged northern states to build schools patterned after Barewa College to foster unity and broaden access to quality learning.
The governor explained that his administration has built roughly 400 primary schools in Gombe State while prioritising teacher recruitment and training. He added that getting children into classrooms is only the first step, as authorities must also focus on retention, course completion, and technical skill acquisition so that young people can build sustainable careers.
Contributing to the discussion, former Minister of State for Education Aishatu Dukku stated that while poverty remains an obstacle, parents must take direct responsibility for schooling their children rather than leaving the entire burden to the government. Yahaya also called on traditional institutions, religious leaders, and civic groups to form active partnerships that turn educational policy ideas into direct actions on the ground.
