UNICEF has called on media practitioners to sustain advocacy on education issues, emphasizing that journalists have a critical role to play in driving policy actions and improving learning outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.
Media Dialogue on Digital Learning
During a two-day media dialogue on digital learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and skill development for out-of-school children held at Ede, Osun State, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, made the call. She stressed that persistent and impactful reporting can compel stakeholders to address the country's growing education challenges.
Learning Poverty in Nigeria
Lafoucriere, speaking through a recorded message, lamented the scale of learning poverty in Nigeria, revealing that only one in four children who attend school can read and perform basic mathematics by age 14. She noted that millions of children remain excluded from the education system altogether.
“Think about that for one second. Of all the children in Nigeria who actually go to school, only one in four can read properly and do basic maths at age 14. Just one in four. And we are only talking about the children who make it to school. There are 10 million more who never get to school at all,” she said.
According to her, these statistics represent real children whose future opportunities are being limited by inadequate access to quality education. She warned that the rapid advancement of technology and artificial intelligence would further widen inequalities if urgent measures were not taken to equip children with relevant skills.
“The children who know how to use these technologies will have a chance. The ones who don’t will be left out. Right now, out-of-school children in Nigeria are the ones being left out, and among them, girls are the furthest behind,” she added.
Role of the Media
Lafoucriere urged journalists to keep education issues on the front burner, noting that sustained media attention often influences government policies and public action. “When journalists keep coming back to an important story like this, week after week, people start paying attention. Policymakers listen, politicians listen, stakeholders listen. That is how things change. A story that does not go away is a story that gets acted upon,” she said.
She encouraged media practitioners to use the engagement to interact with beneficiaries of educational interventions and amplify stories that highlight both challenges and opportunities within the sector.
Support from Stakeholders
The UNICEF official lauded the Osun State Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for supporting initiatives aimed at improving access to education for vulnerable children. She expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, communities, and the media would help reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve learning outcomes across the country.
Lafoucriere maintained that ensuring every child has access to quality education remains critical to Nigeria's future development and economic competitiveness.
Digital Learning and AI
Muritala Jimoh, Permanent Secretary of the Osun State Ministry of Education, stated that education remains the most powerful tool for human development and economic growth, yet millions across Nigeria remain excluded due to rural socioeconomic conditions, cultural barriers, and security challenges.
According to Jimoh, digital learning platforms are transforming knowledge delivery, making education more accessible, flexible, inclusive, and engaging. He stressed that AI can help personalize learning experiences, identify gaps, support teachers, improve educational planning, and provide innovative solutions to reach children where traditional schools cannot.
“These children are deprived of opportunities to develop their own potentials and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said. He noted that digital technology and artificial intelligence now present unprecedented opportunities to bridge educational gaps, extending learning to vulnerable and marginalized children outside the formal system.
Jimoh added that education must go beyond academic achievement to include practical digital, entrepreneurial, and life skills necessary for self-reliance. He called on the media to shape public perception, raise awareness, influence policy discourse, and mobilize community support.
Partnerships
Agencies that partnered with UNICEF included UBEC, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSE), SUBEBs, World Bank, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Microsoft, and others.
