Save the Children International (SCI) has revealed that at least 1,683 learners were abducted across Nigeria between 2014 and 2022, with 184 deaths recorded and about 25 school buildings destroyed within the same period.
The disclosure was made by Mogbonjubade Adesulure, Digital Media and Communication Specialist for Save the Children Nigeria, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Katsina.
The statement was released to mark the 2026 International Day of Education, celebrated under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.”
Adesulure cited UNICEF data indicating that Nigeria currently has about 10.5 million primary school-aged children who are not enrolled in school, representing roughly 25.6 per cent of children in that age group.
She added that girls account for nearly 60 per cent of the country’s out-of-school children, underscoring deep gender disparities in access to education.
According to her, the organisation is using the 2026 International Day of Education to call for increased government funding for education, full enforcement of the Safe Schools Declaration, and strengthened security measures to safeguard learners and educational facilities nationwide.
She warned that without secure learning environments and adequate investment in education, the potential of Nigeria’s youth — who make up over 60 per cent of the population — would remain severely limited.
Adesulure said the education crisis in Nigeria requires urgent attention, stressing that young people must be actively involved in reshaping education systems rather than being treated as passive recipients.
She noted that the sector is under intense pressure from insecurity, learning poverty, teacher shortages, low school retention rates and a widening digital divide.
“Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are key drivers of change today. Their voices and leadership are critical to rebuilding education systems that are resilient and inclusive,” she said.
She quoted Save the Children’s Country Director, Duncan Harvey, as reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting youth-led advocacy for the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration.
Harvey also pledged continued support for youth leadership in emergency education responses and skills development initiatives for adolescents affected by conflict and displacement.