Gombe State has launched a free registration and enrolment campaign to tackle its rising out-of-school children crisis, with official figures putting the number at over 787,000.
The initiative, flagged off by the state’s First Lady, Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, is being implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with UBEC and UNICEF.
It provides free registration and learning materials across all 11 LGAs, with a target to enrol 220,000 children before 2030.
At the launch in Gombe, Mrs. Yahaya urged parents to take advantage of the opportunity, highlighting Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to child welfare through education, healthcare, and nutrition.
SUBEB Chairman, Babaji Babadidi, explained that the programme focuses not just on enrolment but also on retention, completion, and transition of pupils through the school system.
Commissioner for Education, Aishatu Maigari, described the move as “a bold step” toward bridging the education gap and advancing sustainable development.
She tasked local government chairmen with ensuring children remain in school until completion.
Stakeholders believe the initiative could reshape Gombe’s future by giving thousands of children in rural and urban communities access to formal education.
