The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for collective, bold and decisive action to address the deepening crisis of inequitable access to quality basic education in Northern Nigeria, warning that the region’s future is at stake without urgent intervention.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya made the call while delivering an address as Chairman of the Occasion at the 12th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Dutse, Jigawa State. The lecture was themed “Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria – A Time for Real Action.”
Describing the theme as timely, the Governor said it reflected the enduring legacy of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, whose vision placed education at the centre of unity, development and prosperity in the North and Nigeria as a whole.
He noted that the lecture came shortly after the nation marked the 60th anniversary of the January 15, 1966 coup, which claimed the lives of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and other national leaders. According to him, the most meaningful way to honour their memory is through purposeful action anchored on good governance and inclusive development.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed concern over alarming education statistics, revealing that Nigeria has more than 18 million out-of-school children, with about 70 per cent of them in Northern Nigeria. He added that literacy rates in some Northern states remain below 30 per cent, while girl-child enrolment and basic literacy and numeracy outcomes are still unacceptably low.
He stressed that education must remain a top priority for leaders in the region, explaining that Northern governors have intensified collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), development partners and donor agencies to expand access, improve infrastructure and strengthen teacher capacity.
The NSGF Chairman also highlighted the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund as a key intervention to address insecurity, which he described as the greatest threat to education in the region. The fund, he said, is designed to provide sustainable financing for coordinated security efforts to protect schools and learning environments.
He further disclosed that the Forum, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, has launched initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Forum 2025 and state-level workshops on foundational learning to improve early-grade literacy and numeracy and return millions of children to school.
Speaking on developments in Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya outlined far-reaching reforms undertaken by his administration, including the declaration of a state of emergency on education, the establishment of a high-level task force on basic education revitalisation and the rollout of a N13.5 billion School Improvement Grant to upgrade facilities in 442 secondary schools.
He said the state enrolled about 450,000 out-of-school children between 2019 and 2025, expanded access to higher education through new university campuses, rebuilt special needs schools, paid scholarships and covered examination fees for secondary school students.
The Governor emphasised that resolving the education crisis in the North requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, including parents, communities, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector and civil society organisations.
He commended the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) for sustaining the annual lecture series and announced key institutional reforms within the NSGF, including the strengthening of its secretariat with the appointment of a full-time Director-General, Mr Ezekiel Gomos, to enhance coordination and ensure a unified Northern voice on development issues.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya also congratulated recipients of the 2026 Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Awards, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the values of integrity, service and excellence exemplified by the Sardauna.
In his remarks, the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, said that despite persistent socioeconomic and security challenges, Northern Nigeria remains resilient. He praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership of the NSGF, particularly the establishment of the Security Trust Fund and reforms to strengthen the Forum, describing them as critical steps towards improved security, unity and sustainable development.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the SABMF and former Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his bold initiatives to reposition the NSGF Secretariat and introduce far-reaching measures to address the region’s socioeconomic challenges.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Special Guest of Honour at the event, delivered his remarks through the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, who represented him at the lecture.