Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that more than eight million children in Nigeria’s North-West region are currently out of school, highlighting the scale of poverty and social challenges facing the area.
Speaking through Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin at a policy dialogue in Kano focused on reducing multidimensional poverty, Shettima said the region continues to struggle with major issues in education, healthcare, nutrition, and income security despite its large population and economic potential.
According to him, the North-West faces alarming levels of deprivation, including high maternal and child mortality rates, widespread child malnutrition, and millions of children lacking access to education.
The Vice President emphasized that poverty should not be measured only by income, noting that limited access to quality education, healthcare, food, and opportunities provides a clearer picture of hardship. He described poverty as a reality experienced by children who cannot read, families uncertain about their next meal, and young people left behind as the world advances technologically.
Shettima reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expanding social protection programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable households and reducing the effects of economic hardship and insecurity.
He also proposed the introduction of a Universal Child Benefit scheme, arguing that such a programme could improve child nutrition, increase school attendance, and reduce problems such as child labour and early marriage.
The Vice President urged governors, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to move beyond discussions and implement practical solutions that will improve the lives of children and vulnerable families across the North-West region.
