Traditional rulers in Adamawa State’s Central Senatorial District have pledged to eradicate the growing number of out-of-school children across their communities, vowing to champion education and restore its importance among the people.
The commitment was led by the Lamido of Adamawa and Chairman of the Council of Emirs and Chiefs, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, who alongside other prominent royal fathers, made the declaration during a high-level orientation meeting held Tuesday in Yola.
The meeting was jointly convened by the Adamawa State Government and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), with support from UNICEF, as part of efforts to reposition traditional leaders as strong advocates for education reform.
According to a UNICEF-supported report published in January 2024, Adamawa State is grappling with an estimated 886,634 out-of-school children—a crisis attributed to poverty, poor infrastructure, learning gaps, and limited access to quality education.
In response, the royal fathers vowed to use their influence to drive awareness, mobilize communities, and hold education stakeholders accountable. They emphasized the need for collective action to tackle the root causes of the crisis and pledged to support initiatives that improve school enrollment, retention, and completion rates.
Adamawa State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Garba Umar Pella, who spoke at the event, reaffirmed the Fintiri administration’s commitment to revitalizing the sector. He said education remains a top priority in the governor’s development agenda, with significant investments made to expand access and improve quality.
Dr. Pella revealed that the state government is in the process of reviewing legislation to make basic education compulsory, warning that parents who fail to enroll their children in school may soon face legal consequences. He described the involvement of traditional rulers as a critical turning point, noting that their engagement would deepen community ownership of education reforms.
Also speaking at the event, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, stressed that education is a fundamental right and a key to securing the future of every child. She praised the state government’s proactive approach and called on traditional leaders to sustain their commitment to inclusive learning.
Dr. Rafique highlighted key barriers to education in the state, including gender inequality, teacher shortages, and inadequate learning environments. She urged all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and ensure no child is left behind in the push for a more equitable and robust education system.