Gombe State Government has renewed its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve access to quality education in the state.
Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya signed a comprehensive Framework of Action on Friday at the Government House, Gombe, during a strategic engagement with UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Dr. Nusrat Choudhri.
The framework, jointly developed with UNICEF, focuses on four key result areas: strategic engagement and responsiveness of political actors; strengthening best practices and identifying alternative solutions; enhancing community accountability and mobilisation; and leveraging technology and innovation to improve learning access.
Yahaya described the rising number of out-of-school children as a “national emergency,” especially in the North-East, where insecurity and displacement have disrupted education systems.
“Gombe State has become home to thousands of internally displaced persons from neighbouring states. While we welcome and integrate them, this has further strained our educational resources. Our target is to reduce the number of out-of-school children by at least half before 2030,” he said.
The governor also highlighted the state’s initiatives in nutrition, citing the “Garin Inuwa” model — a locally developed food supplement to combat child malnutrition — as an example of homegrown solutions.
In her remarks, Choudhri commended the state’s political will and measurable progress in education, health, nutrition and child protection.
“Gombe State continues to set the pace in Northern Nigeria. Your development trajectory is exemplary, from the passage of the Child Rights Act and Disability Law to proactive responses in education and health,” she said.
She praised the government’s consistent payment of counterpart funding and urged increased child-focused investments to consolidate gains.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, commissioners of education, health, and budget and economic planning, as well as the special adviser to the governor on development partners coordination and other senior officials.
