Dr. Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, made this known at a media dialogue on strengthening early childhood education in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina, held in Dutse.

He disclosed that only about 24 per cent of children in Jigawa State have access to ECE, compared to 29 per cent in Kano and 32 per cent in Katsina.

Dr. Singh described the figures as worrying, noting that most children in the region are missing out on the crucial early learning stage that supports cognitive, emotional, and social development.

He explained that children without access to quality early education often begin primary school at a disadvantage and struggle to catch up, contributing to the rising number of out-of-school children in the region.

He also revealed that foundational literacy levels remain below 15 per cent in some areas, meaning many children cannot read at a basic level.

According to him, the situation is driven by low parental awareness, shortage of trained teachers, poor infrastructure, and lack of learning materials, all of which hinder the expansion of early childhood education.

Despite the challenges, he stressed that the situation can be improved with stronger political will and increased investment from state governments.

He urged authorities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to prioritise early childhood education by increasing funding, recruiting qualified caregivers, and expanding access to child-friendly learning centres.

UNICEF Education Specialist, Mustapha Shehu, also noted that data from MICS 2022 shows that only 37.8 per cent of Nigerian children aged three to four are enrolled in early childhood education.

He highlighted wide inequality, stating that 75 per cent of children from the richest households attend early learning programmes, compared to just 11 per cent from the poorest households.

Education consultant Dr. Sunday Jacob added that Nigeria currently has about 18.3 million out-of-school children, with Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina accounting for 30 per cent of that number.

He emphasised that investing in early childhood education is key to reducing the crisis, noting that it supports up to 90 per cent of brain development in early life.

He further recommended that states establish dedicated budget allocations for early childhood education.

In response, Commissioners for Basic Education from Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa pledged to prioritise funding for early childhood education and ensure timely release of resources to strengthen the education sector.

The development comes amid ongoing political consultations within the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Borno State.

Reports suggest that Zulum did not endorse other candidates allegedly favoured by the Vice President, including Senator Kaka Shehu and Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, signalling emerging internal tensions over the APC ticket.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Zulum explained that Gubio’s emergence followed extensive consultations with key party stakeholders.

He described the decision as a reflection of unity and consensus within the party structure in the state.

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and continued support for Borno State and the APC.

He further noted that the President played a significant role in the emergence of Gubio as the consensus candidate.

Zulum also praised Vice President Shettima for his role in promoting party unity and supporting the consensus process in the state.

He expressed appreciation to party leaders and stakeholders whose contributions, he said, helped secure Gubio’s nomination.

Earlier, Zulum had publicly endorsed Gubio as his preferred successor after purchasing the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 election.

The presentation event was attended by prominent political figures, including former Governor Maina Ma’aji Lawan, Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur, Senator Ali Ndume, and other party stakeholders.