NGO Decries Nigeria’s Learning Crisis, Expands Support for Abuja Students on Children’s Day

The Strom Foundation has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deepening learning crisis, using the occasion of Children’s Day to expand its educational outreach to students of Government Junior Secondary School, Jikwoyi, Abuja, through the second edition of its “100 Bright Minds Initiative.”

The programme, which combined mentorship, distribution of learning materials and confidence-building activities, targeted junior secondary students at a stage considered critical for shaping career interests and future aspirations.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the foundation stressed that supporting children required more than enrolment, noting that millions remain out of school while a vast majority of those in class lack foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

Programme Officer Blessing David-Offiong said every child deserved more than a classroom seat. “They deserve the tools, guidance, and confidence to believe that their future is worth preparing for,” she said.

The foundation cited UNICEF data showing that about 8.1 million children of junior secondary school age are currently out of school in Nigeria, while 74 per cent of children aged seven to 14 cannot read or perform basic arithmetic. It added that an estimated 4.2 million children fail to complete junior secondary education each year.

In the Federal Capital Territory alone, 197,149 students are enrolled across JSS1 to JSS3 in public schools, according to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, making targeted interventions increasingly important.

The foundation argued that Africa’s future workforce must be nurtured early through education, mentorship and community support, noting that the continent’s growth would depend on young minds being prepared to lead and innovate.

“Brighter futures do not begin someday; they begin with the minds we support today,” the statement added.

The outreach comes amid persistent warnings from education stakeholders over the high number of out-of-school children, poor learning outcomes and inadequate infrastructure, with calls growing for greater investment at the basic and junior secondary levels to reduce inequality and drive long-term national development.