More children to enrol in schools as Adamawa, partners consolidate ECW project
A major boost to school enrolment in Adamawa State is underway as the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners, rolls out a far-reaching education intervention targeting thousands of out-of-school and vulnerable children.
The initiative, launched under the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) programme, is expected to significantly expand access to education, particularly among children affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty across the state.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Yola, an education specialist with UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Abdurrahman Ibrahim Ado, said the project is designed to remove long-standing barriers preventing children from enrolling and staying in school.
He explained that the intervention is part of the Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP II), a continuation of earlier education support efforts in the North-East.
He said the programme, which began in December 2024, will run for 36 months, ending in December 2027.
According to Dr. Ado, the ECW project is strategically focused on boosting enrolment by addressing key challenges such as insecurity, climate shocks, economic hardship, and inequality, factors that have kept many children out of classrooms and contributed to poor learning outcomes.
According to him, the programme adopts a multi-partner approach to ensure effective delivery noting that while UNICEF provides technical leadership and oversight, organizations like Save the Children will improve access and learning outcomes.
He added that the Norwegian Refugee Council is supporting enrolment through gender inclusion and psychosocial services, while other partners including Plan International and GHIV Africa are driving community-level engagement and gender-responsive initiatives.
He noted that to maximize impact, the intervention is being implemented in selected local government areas rather than statewide.
The education specialist said in Adamawa State, seven LGAs of Fufure, Michika, Madagali, Yola South, Mubi, Shelleng, and Ganye have been prioritized for targeted enrolment drives and support services.
He added that the project places special emphasis on enrolling internally displaced children, returnees, and other out-of-school populations, including children with disabilities and those in marginalized learning systems such as Almajiri (Tsangaya) adding that by focusing on these groups, the programme aims to close the education gap and bring more children into formal and non-formal learning environments.
“The goal is simple, no child should be left behind,” Dr. Ado stated, stressing that the initiative is already creating pathways for increased enrolment and improved retention.
He noted that the project is gender bias as it targets 60 percent of girls and 40 percent boys expressing optimism that the project will transform the education landscape in Adamawa by ensuring that more children not only enrol in school but also remain and succeed.
