The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns about the 8-15% dropout rate among adolescents in primary and secondary schools across the Southwest region of Nigeria, which includes Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, and Ogun states.

UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti, highlighted these concerns following a two-day regional stakeholders meeting on strategies for improving retention, transition, and completion rates among out-of-school children. The meeting, which took place in Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges facing education in the region.

Menkiti reported that while the completion rates for primary and secondary education among adolescents aged 10 to 18 are currently 92% and 85% respectively, the existing dropout rates pose a significant threat to the future of education in the region. She warned that if efforts to ensure full retention and completion are not intensified, the education sector could face severe setbacks.

"This meeting was focused on the Southwest zone of Nigeria," Menkiti explained. "UNICEF is working to support states in improving the retention, transition, and completion of secondary education for adolescents. This builds on a decade of successful interventions in girls’ education, which have proven effective in bringing girls to school and keeping them there."

Menkiti emphasized the importance of identifying and addressing the factors contributing to the high dropout rates. "When discussing out-of-school children, we consider those who have never enrolled, those who are unlikely to enroll, and those who have dropped out. Our focus is particularly on adolescents at risk of dropping out or failing to complete secondary education, especially in the Southwest, where enrollment rates are high but retention and completion rates require improvement."

The stakeholders' meeting brought together commissioners, SUBEB chairmen, permanent directors, and secretaries from various Southwest states to review and adapt successful intervention models to their respective contexts. UNICEF is advocating for these states to ensure adequate funding for secondary education and to develop reliable data to support efforts in improving education.

Menkiti also outlined UNICEF's focus on system strengthening, expanding access to education, and creating quality learning opportunities for children and adolescents. She stressed the need for credible data to support advocacy and for state governments to develop policies and plans that facilitate the transition to and completion of secondary education. Additionally, UNICEF is working with community and religious leaders to challenge social norms that keep children out of school.