16/07/2026
UMMAH SUPPORT INITIATIVE
Education • Health • Livelihoods • Peacebuilding •
Community Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abuja, Nigeria | July 16, 2026
Ummah Support Initiative Calls for Urgent Collective Action to Address the Out-of-School Children Crisis in Northern Nigeria.
Ummah Support Initiative (USI), a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education, social inclusion, and sustainable community development, has called for renewed national commitment and stronger partnerships to tackle the alarming number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria.
Education is not only a fundamental human right but also the foundation for economic growth, social stability, peace, and national development. Yet, millions of children across Northern Nigeria remain out of school due to poverty, insecurity, displacement, inadequate educational infrastructure, harmful social norms, and limited access to quality learning opportunities.
This crisis threatens the future of an entire generation and undermines Nigeria's aspirations for inclusive and sustainable development.
For years, Ummah Support Initiative has worked with communities, religious leaders, traditional institutions, schools, government agencies, and international development partners to improve access to education for vulnerable children.
Through community mobilization, enrollment campaigns, educational support, advocacy, and strategic partnerships — including initiatives supported through funding from USAID — USI has helped many children overcome barriers that once prevented them from attending school.
However, despite these successes, the scale of the challenge remains enormous.
Every child denied an education represents a lost opportunity for Nigeria. Behind every out-of-school child is a story of unrealized potential — a future teacher who never enters a classroom, a doctor who never saves lives, an entrepreneur who never creates jobs, or a leader whose talents remain undiscovered.
The consequences extend far beyond individual children.
Communities with high numbers of out-of-school children often experience higher levels of poverty, unemployment, child labour, early marriage, social exclusion, and vulnerability to criminality and violent extremism. Education is one of the most effective long-term investments in peacebuilding, economic resilience, and national security.
Our Commitment
At Ummah Support Initiative, we remain committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, gender, religion, or economic status, has access to safe, inclusive, and quality education. Our work focuses on:
• Supporting vulnerable children to enroll and remain in school.
• Providing educational materials and learning support.
• Mobilizing communities to promote the value of education.
• Working with parents, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to reduce barriers to school attendance.
• Advocating for policies that improve equitable access to education.
• Building partnerships that strengthen
community-based education initiatives.
• Supporting girls' education and protecting children from barriers such as child labour and early marriage.
• Promoting education as a pathway to peace, dignity, and sustainable development.
Education Is Everyone's Responsibility
The responsibility of educating Nigeria's children cannot rest solely on government. Sustainable solutions require the collective efforts of families, communities, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, philanthropists, foundations, and international development partners.
We therefore call on:
• Federal and State Governments to increase investments in basic education and prioritize vulnerable communities.
• Corporate organizations to expand their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by investing in children's education.
• Development partners and donor agencies to strengthen support for community-led education programmes.
• Philanthropists and charitable foundations to sponsor scholarships, school materials, and learning opportunities for disadvantaged children.
• Religious and traditional leaders to continue championing education within their communities.
• Citizens to support local initiatives that ensure children remain in school.
A Call to Partnership
Ummah Support Initiative invites governments, donor agencies, development organizations, foundations, corporate institutions, and individuals to partner with us in expanding access to quality education across Northern Nigeria.
Together, we can provide scholarships, school supplies, community learning support, teacher capacity-building, and family empowerment programmes that enable children not only to enroll in school but to complete their education and realize their full potential.
Every child educated today strengthens Nigeria tomorrow.
The future of Northern Nigeria depends on the decisions we make today. Let us choose education over neglect, opportunity over despair, and hope over hopelessness.
About Ummah Support Initiative
Ummah Support Initiative (USI) is a Nigerian faith-based, non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of vulnerable populations through education, humanitarian assistance, health, livelihood support, peacebuilding, youth empowerment, women's empowerment, and community development.
The organization works collaboratively with government institutions, communities, development partners, religious leaders, and the private sector to implement sustainable programmes that promote human dignity and inclusive development.
Media Contact
Ummah Support Initiative (USI)
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
For partnership opportunities, media inquiries, or support for our education programmes, please contact Ummah Support Initiative through its official communication channels.
[email protected]
