The Rivers State Government has called on stakeholders, community leaders, parents and education authorities to intensify efforts to identify and enrol out-of-school children across Nigeria, stressing that every child deserves access to quality and inclusive education.
The State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, made the call yesterday at the Regional Campaign on Engaging Community Structures to Promote the Enrolment of Out-of-School Children (OOSC) and the regional flag-off of the 2026/2027 Enrolment Drive for Southern States, held in Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, the governor said education remained a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, and emphasised the need to ensure that no child was left behind because of economic hardship, social background or other barriers to schooling.
He noted that expanding access to education was critical to achieving sustainable development, promoting social inclusion and creating equal opportunities for children to realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Fubara urged participating states and communities to translate their commitments into concrete and measurable actions by identifying and reaching vulnerable children, strengthening community engagement, and encouraging parents and guardians to prioritise their children’s education.
He also reiterated the state government’s commitment to initiatives designed to expand access to education, particularly for children who had been excluded from formal schooling.
“Rivers State remains committed to supporting initiatives that expand access to inclusive and quality education, particularly for vulnerable children who may have missed the opportunity to attend formal schools”,, the governor said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, described the growing number of out-of-school children as one of the major challenges confronting the education sector.
Garba called for a collective and collaborative approach involving governments, communities, parents and other stakeholders to address the challenge.
She stressed the need to ensure that no Nigerian child was denied the fundamental right to education.
The programme was organised by UBEC in collaboration with the Rivers State Government as part of efforts to strengthen community participation and promote school enrolment across the southern states ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.
- Masi is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
