Nigeria’s education sector is facing a crisis of alarming proportions, with more than 28 million children and adolescents lacking access to formal schooling or digital learning opportunities, according to UNICEF. On the 2026 International Day of Education, Save the Children Nigeria is calling for stronger government investment in education, full implementation of safe school measures, and robust security protocols to protect children and their learning environments.
The organisation warns that without safe schools and adequate funding, the potential of Nigeria’s young population, which accounts for over 60% of the country, remains severely constrained.
Under the 2026 global theme, “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education,” Save the Children emphasizes the critical role young people must play in shaping educational systems. Young people should be recognised not only as beneficiaries but as active co-creators of policies, school governance, and educational innovations.
“Investing in youth agency is investing in the long-term peace, stability, and prosperity of Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large,” said Godwin Lasisi, Youth Advocate and Ambassador, Africa Agenda 2063.
Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, highlighted the urgent need for youth-led advocacy and engagement. He said the organisation is committed to strengthening youth-led initiatives for safe schools, emergency education responses, and skills development for adolescents affected by conflict and displacement.
The organisation stresses that insecurity, learning poverty, teacher shortages, low retention rates, and a widening digital divide continue to undermine Nigeria’s education system. Attacks on schools, mass abductions, and community displacements, particularly in North-East and North-West Nigeria, threaten both access to and quality of education for vulnerable children.
Safiyya Aji Kolo, Save the Children Girl Champion, added that youths are co-creators of the education that shapes tomorrow, and education is strongest when young voices are not just heard, but trusted to build it.
Save the Children Nigeria is urging government, partners, and stakeholders to fully implement the National Policy on Safe, Secure, and Violence-Free Schools at both federal and state levels; integrate youth voices at all levels of education governance to ensure active participation in reform processes; invest in technology, innovation, and digital inclusion to equip Nigeria’s youth with 21st-century skills; expand safe, disability-inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments, particularly in underserved and insecure regions; and fund youth-led solutions, recognising their creativity, leadership, and lived experiences.
The organisation notes that addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to learn in safe, supportive, and accessible educational environments.
About Save the Children
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children, delivering lasting change for millions of children globally, including in Nigeria since 2001. Its programmes span education, health, child protection, social protection, humanitarian response, and child rights governance.
