Out-of-school children: Nigeria has highest number in sub-Saharan Africa – Minister

Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, says Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nwajiuba made this known during the inauguration of “Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA)” in Katsina on Monday.

Nigeria has an estimated 10,193,918 children out of school.

According to the minister, the current challenges ranging from high illiteracy level, infrastructural decay and deficits has affected Nigeria’s educational system.

“We have inadequate number of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructural facilities/resources and poor funding,” he added.

The minister noted that BESDA focuses on 17 states, 13 of which are in the Northwest and Northeast geopolitical zones, and Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers.