In a renewed effort to reduce the number of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned three blocks of six fully furnished classrooms at Central Pilot Primary School in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to a statement shared on its verified social media handle, the Service said the project, executed under the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke’s Special Intervention Projects initiative and coordinated by Air Vice Marshal NK Kumzhi (Retired), also included the provision of desks and chairs to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for pupils.
The intervention also forms part of the NAF’s concerted effort to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Plateau State and build the critical human capital required for Nigeria’s rapid economic development.
According to UNICEF, no fewer than 10.5 million children aged between five and 14 years are out of school in Nigeria, underscoring one of the country’s most pressing education challenges.
A further breakdown by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) shows that the burden is disproportionately concentrated in northern Nigeria.
The North-West records the highest number of out-of-school children aged between six and 11 years, with 3,490,670, followed by the North-East with 2,001,038. The North-Central has about 1.1 million out-of-school children, while the South-South, South-West and South-East account for approximately 670,000, 580,000 and 350,000, respectively.
The UBEC data further indicates that the North-West and North-East together account for about 66 per cent of Nigeria’s out-of-school children, underscoring the concentration of the crisis across northern Nigeria.
Similarly, findings from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) reveal that 18 per cent of primary school-age children in Plateau State are out of school.
By comparison, Zamfara State records 61% the highest proportion in northern Nigeria highlighting the stark disparities in school enrollment across the region.
Represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the intervention reflects the NAF’s commitment to promoting education, community development and national security through effective civil-military cooperation.
The CAS further emphasised that sustainable security thrives where communities and security agencies work in partnership, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
In his remarks, Air Vice Marshal NK Kumzhi (Retired) described the project as the fulfilment of his desire to give back to the school that laid the foundation for his educational journey, noting that investing in education remains one of the most enduring contributions to societal development and the empowerment of future generations.
The Plateau State Government, represented by the Chairman of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Sunday Samuel Amuna, commended the Nigerian Air Force for the intervention, noting that the new facilities would significantly improve access to quality education and enhance learning outcomes for children in the community.
The NAF reaffirmed its commitment to implementing similar people-centred projects across the country as part of its broader efforts to support education, foster sustainable community development and strengthen its enduring relationship with host communities.
Linus Aleke
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