In a renewed effort to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education for children and adolescents in Kaduna State, Save the Children organized a two-day workshop titled “Out-of-School Children Media Visibility Plan Development” in Kaduna.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the education sector, media, and civil society organizations.
It forms part of a broader initiative aimed at highlighting the challenges and opportunities in enrolling out-of-school children and ensuring their access to quality education.
According to data from the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics (2020), over 700,000 children are currently out of school in the state, one of the highest figures in Nigeria.
This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for strategic interventions to dismantle barriers to education, improve enrollment and retention, and enhance learning outcomes across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Planning at the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Salisu Baba Lawal, and Deputy Project Coordinator, Hassan Abdul, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children. They revealed that Kaduna State is collaborating with development partners, including Save the Children and UNICEF, to reintegrate at least 200,000 children into the formal education system.
Both officials emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the implementation of the initiative, particularly in schools with a significant number of children with autism and other special needs.
They stressed that targeted support for such schools would greatly enhance learning outcomes and ensure that no child is left behind.
Participants at the workshop highlighted the pivotal role of the media in raising public awareness and strengthening advocacy efforts for inclusive education.
One of the key outcomes of the event was the development of a comprehensive media visibility plan that leverages storytelling, visual content, and the voices of children to influence policy and foster community engagement.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, AbdulGhaffar Alabewele, commended the organizers for involving media stakeholders from the outset.
He noted that early engagement enables better understanding of project objectives and encourages more effective collaboration.
A participant from Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Adamu Yusuf, appealed to the Kaduna State Government to prioritize the deployment of qualified primary school teachers, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Other participants described the workshop as timely and essential, particularly in light of the rising number of children with autism and the pressing need for more robust support systems. One contributor emphasized the importance of initiating government-backed programs that focus on children with special needs, noting that early intervention is key to building a more inclusive and empowered future.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged with various presentations that addressed the systemic challenges facing education in Kaduna State and proposed strategic pathways for the effective implementation of the four-year project.
The initiative is part of a larger campaign to ensure that all children in Kaduna State—regardless of background, ability, or circumstance—are granted the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
