The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that over 10 million Nigerian children are not enrolled in early childhood care, development, and education (ECCDE). This revelation was made by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, at a capacity-building workshop in Abuja. According to Garba, only 35.6% of Nigerian children aged 36 to 59 months currently attend any form of early childhood education. This low participation rate contributes to poor learning outcomes and developmental challenges among children across the country.
The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showed that about 46% of children aged 24 to 59 months were developmentally off track. Furthermore, analysis revealed that about 70% of Nigerian 10-year-olds could not read and understand a simple text. The consequences of inadequate early childhood education become more pronounced as children progress through the education system. With only 2.4 million of the 5.9 million children who enter primary school each year remaining in the education system at the end of junior secondary school, the need for improvement in ECCDE is evident.
Dr. Garba emphasized that early childhood development should be treated as an integrated national priority rather than a stand-alone education program. Citing Nobel Laureate James Heckman's estimate, she noted that high-quality birth-to-five programs yield about 13% annual return per child. To address the issue, Garba urged states to ensure that ECCDE interventions are captured in their State Matching Grant Action Plans. She warned that programs not included in the plans would not receive funding, procurement, or monitoring attention.
The deadline for states to submit their ECCDE Action Plans for the next intervention year has been extended from September 30 to October 5, 2026. However, Garba stressed that this extension is not an opportunity for further delay. Plans submitted after the new deadline will not be considered for the intervention year. She directed states to develop ECCDE programs around the needs of the whole child, working with various authorities, including health, nutrition, water, and sanitation.
According to the 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, stunting among children under five is at 40% nationally, ranging from 12% in Rivers State to 65% in Katsina State. Dr. Garba also emphasized the need for ECCDE centers to comply with essential standards, including child safety, supervision, and safeguarding. She called for measures to ensure that children with disabilities and those living in hard-to-reach areas are not excluded from ECCDE programs.
The Acting Director, Department of Special Programmes and Early Childhood, UBEC, Dr. Chijioke J. Onwuzurike, noted that Nigeria currently has over 45 early childhood development delivery channels across various sectors. However, this multiplicity of channels has created fragmentation, with platforms sometimes duplicating efforts, failing to share data, and providing inconsistent services. The Commission expects every state to map and streamline its existing early childhood development platforms over the next 18 months.
Dr. Garba also called for stronger engagement with parents, caregivers, School-Based Management Committees, traditional institutions, and religious bodies. Communities can serve as important delivery platforms for children who cannot easily be reached through conventional classrooms. With the extension of the deadline for ECCDE Action Plans, states are expected to leave Abuja with a costed, integrated, and inclusive draft plan to present to their Executive Chairman and submit through the digital planning template within the extended period.
Key points
- Over 10 million Nigerian children are not enrolled in early childhood education.
- Low participation in ECCDE contributes to poor learning outcomes and developmental challenges.
- UBEC urges states to prioritize ECCDE and ensure compliance with essential standards.
