The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has declared that Nigeria is now better positioned to decisively confront the longstanding challenge of Almajiri and out-of-school children across the country.

He made the assertion while backing the Olohungbebe-led Committee of States Commissioners of Education in Nigeria during a peer learning webinar aimed at advancing coordinated education reforms nationwide.

The Minister described the initiative as timely and fully aligned with national education priorities.

He stressed that stronger collaboration between the federal and sub-national governments remains critical to sustainably reducing the number of out-of-school children.

“Reducing out-of-school children requires shared accountability, harmonised implementation frameworks, and evidence based planning across all tiers of government,” he said.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborative national action.

Dr Alausa commended the structured reform engagements being championed by COSCEN under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe.

He noted that institutionalised peer learning would strengthen policy coherence and accelerate measurable progress in access and equity nationwide.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank COSCEN Chairman, Dr Olohungbebe, for his work. I know you now have a functioning secretariat at the INEC office and I want you to make good use of it,” the Minister said.

He added that efforts to address the Almajiri and out-of-school crisis must begin at the state level, expressing satisfaction with the renewed commitment shown by states in developing practical strategies to tackle the burden.

“Today the issue of Almajiri and out-of-school children, the work starts in the states and I am happy with the renewed interest we are seeing in each of our states in putting strategies together to tackle the burden.

“Today the country is better positioned to manage and aggressively tackle this problem once and for all in a very strategic, futuristic and sustainable manner,” he said.

The Minister attributed the improved outlook to the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.

He noted that the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, brings firsthand experience and administrative capacity, having risen from Almajiri background to earn a PhD and previously served as Commissioner for Education in Yobe State.

Chairman of COSCEN and Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the initiative signals the Committee’s shift from consultative dialogue to results oriented coordination anchored on data, peer accountability and policy harmonisation.

“This platform moves us beyond discussions to structured solution sharing that aligns state innovations with federal frameworks, ensuring our complementary mandates deliver measurable outcomes for children,” Olohungbebe said.

COSCEN hosted its maiden webinar spotlighting reforms in Gombe State with the theme: “Gombe Strategy In Addressing Out-of-School Children: Innovative models, measurable results and scalable options” attended by the Executive Secretary.

According to the National Coordinator, Dr Leo Ebenezer, the webinar, held via Microsoft Teams, advanced COSCEN’s peer learning agenda and promotes coordinated reforms aimed at effectively addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school challenge.

The session featured the Commissioner for Education in Gombe State, Aishatu Umar Maigari, who presented data driven interventions and delivered improved enrolment outcomes and scalable models adaptable across Nigeria’s diverse education systems. (Daily Trust)

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