Awka, Nigeria – The UNICEF Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, has called for urgent action to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis during the official launch of the Institute for Social Policy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The institute, an academic programme facilitated by UNICEF, aims to deepen research and policy development to tackle pressing social issues affecting children and vulnerable populations.

Speaking at the event, Munduate emphasized that merely lamenting the high number of children not enrolled in school was no longer sufficient. “It is not enough to keep stating the problem. The time has come to take deliberate, informed, and sustained action to ensure that every child is in school and learning,” she said, urging policymakers and stakeholders to turn concern into concrete steps.

The new Institute for Social Policy is expected to serve as a hub for evidence-based research, capacity building, and policy dialogue. It will engage academic scholars, government agencies, and development partners to develop innovative solutions that support inclusive education, social protection, and child rights.

University officials and government representatives at the event lauded UNICEF’s continued investment in Nigeria’s education sector. They expressed optimism that the partnership would significantly strengthen the country’s ability to generate local solutions to challenges that keep millions of children out of school.