18.3m out of school: NAS calls for increased funding, digital inclusion in education sector

By Cross Udo, Abuja

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has declared Nigeria’s growing literacy crisis a “national emergency,” highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent millions of out-of-school children from being condemned to lives of poverty, exclusion, and crime.

NAS has also announced that it would launch a month-long national back-to-school advocacy and humanitarian project

In a statement released on Sunday to mark this year’s International Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era: Bridging the Gap,” NAS Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, emphasised the unprecedented scale of the challenge facing Nigeria.

“Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, it has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children. UNICEF estimates there are 10.2 million primary school-age children out of school, while UNESCO’s figures rise to 18.3 million when adolescents are included. This means that one in every five out-of-school children worldwide is Nigerian,” Oteri stated.

He warned that this crisis severely hampers Nigeria’s progress toward global development goals, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to quality education, poverty reduction, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.

Persistent barriers, such as insecurity, poverty, child labour, gender discrimination, and inadequate infrastructure, continue to push millions of children out of school and into unsafe environments where they face risks of drug abuse, crime, exploitation, and trafficking.

“Literacy in the 21st century must be comprehensive, inclusive, and digitally empowered. Nigeria cannot realise meaningful development while millions of its children remain uneducated, digitally excluded, and socially marginalised,” Oteri stressed.

The NAS Cap’n also expressed concern over Nigeria’s widening digital divide, noting that while children in urban areas increasingly benefit from technology-enabled learning, many in rural communities lack access to affordable internet, digital devices, and ICT centres.

“This unequal access is exacerbating inequality and risks creating a generation of digitally illiterate citizens in a world driven by knowledge and innovation,” he warned.

To reverse the trend, NAS unveiled a six-point rescue plan for Nigeria’s education sector.

First, Oteri called for greater public investment, with at least 20 per cent of national and state budgets earmarked for education and closely monitored to prevent diversion of funds.

He demanded the strict enforcement of the Universal Basic Education policy, ensuring free, compulsory, and quality schooling for every child, free from hidden costs.

Thirdly, he pressed for digital inclusion, urging the government to provide affordable broadband, digital learning devices, and community ICT hubs to bridge the technological gap.

NAS also advocated for expanded social protection measures, including larger school feeding schemes, scholarships, and conditional cash transfers, to prevent children from dropping out due to economic hardship.

The fifth proposal stressed partnerships for change, with government collaborating more effectively with NGOs, civil society, faith-based organisations, and the private sector to mobilise resources and expertise.

Finally, Oteri insisted on accountability and governance, demanding that anti-corruption safeguards be extended to the education sector to ensure resources actually reach classrooms and students.

“Every child left uneducated today becomes a burden on society tomorrow. The cost of inaction is dire,” he warned.

“Every child denied education today becomes a liability on society tomorrow. The cost of inaction is steep,” Oteri warned.

He announced that NAS would launch a month-long national back-to-school advocacy and humanitarian project from September 8 to October 8, 2025.

This campaign, coordinated by NAS chapters across Nigeria and abroad, will combine advocacy efforts with direct support to children and families.

Building on initiatives like the NAS Street Child Project and the Back-to-School Tuition Support Programme, the campaign will provide scholarships, learning materials, and community outreach to vulnerable children.

Oteri appealed to governments at all levels, civil society, the private sector, communities, and international partners to take decisive action.

“Literacy is not just the ability to read and write; it is the gateway to economic participation, resilience against crime, and empowerment for citizenship. Together, we can bridge the gap and secure a brighter future for every Nigerian child,” he concluded.