The Rivers State Government has called on stakeholders, community leaders, parents, and education authorities to step up efforts to identify and enrol out-of-school children across Nigeria, saying every child deserves access to quality, inclusive education.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara made the call on Thursday at the Regional Campaign on Engaging Community Structures to Promote the Enrolment of Out-of-School Children in Port Harcourt, which also served as the regional flag-off of the 2026/2027 Enrolment Drive for Southern States.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, he said education remains a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and stressed that no child should be left behind because of economic hardship, social background, or other barriers.
He said expanding access to education is essential to social inclusion and equal opportunity, and to helping children reach their full potential and contribute to society. He urged participating states and communities to turn their commitments into concrete, measurable action by reaching vulnerable children, strengthening community engagement, and encouraging parents and guardians to prioritise their children’s schooling.
He reaffirmed Rivers State’s commitment to supporting initiatives that widen access to inclusive, quality education, particularly for vulnerable children who may have missed the chance to attend formal school.
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, described the rising number of out-of-school children as one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector. She called for a collective and collaborative approach among governments, communities, parents, and other stakeholders, and stressed that no Nigerian child should be denied the fundamental right to education.
The programme was organised by UBEC in collaboration with the Rivers State Government to strengthen community participation and promote school enrolment across the southern states for the 2026/2027 academic session.
