A European Union-funded consortium led by Plan International Nigeria, alongside Save the Children International and the Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative, aims to reintegrate over 300,000 out-of-school children in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states through the Accelerated Basic Education Program (ABEP).

During the project startup workshop in Kano, Tobi Ransomed, the EU Consortium Lead and Education Advisor of Plan International Nigeria, outlined the initiative’s goals, which span three years from July 2024 to June 2027. The consortium seeks to address the staggering statistics reported by UNESCO, which indicate that Nigeria has around 20 million out-of-school children, with the North-West region alone contributing 3.49 million. Various factors, including economic hardship, insecurity, and systemic barriers such as gender discrimination, contribute to this crisis.

The project is designed to empower youth, particularly girls from underserved and nomadic communities, by providing equitable access to quality education and vocational training. ABEP, as a non-formal education program, targets children aged 10 to 18 who have been out of school for an extended period, facilitating both learning and the development of critical skills for future employment, including training in green jobs.

Focusing on 12 local government areas, with Kano hosting the highest number of targeted regions, the consortium aims to engage 324,000 young boys and girls in ABEP, while also identifying 60,000 individuals for vocational skills training. This dual approach ensures that children who may not pursue traditional academic paths still gain valuable skills to thrive in their communities.