The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for urgent improvements in the nation’s education system as a solution to Nigeria’s high out-of-school population.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, to mark World Literacy Day, the NUJ stressed that the significance of the global event must not be lost on governments at both federal and state levels.

Chude noted that previous efforts by different institutions and agencies to raise the standard of education in the country have been grossly inadequate.

Quoting from the latest global education monitoring report, he said: “The new annual global education monitoring report by UNESCO indicates that 251 million are out of school, which is a mere reduction of one per cent since 2015. In Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, the indicators are dire. The report shows a clear connection between illiteracy and countries in extreme poverty.”

He also recalled UNICEF’s 2022 report, adding: “One in three children is out of school in Nigeria. This means 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school (JSS) level, while 1.12 million children never attended school and 5.9 million left school early.”

The NUJ described Nigeria’s out-of-school population, which accounts for 15 per cent of the global figure, as “outrageous and unsustainable.”

It further warned: “The situation is not helped by the constant search for new and greener pastures by teachers and educators beyond the shores of our country, thereby adding to the greatly diminished numbers of those emptying of our education system.”

The body, however, challenged leaders to step up, insisting that governments must adopt deliberate policies, prioritize investment in education, and incentivize teachers. “Our people must be made literate through deliberate policies and investments in education, as well as much greater incentives to educators,” the union declared.

In a related development, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Sahara Deck of Abuja Municipal, has urged authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prioritize digital literacy in schools, warning that Nigeria risks being left behind in the global knowledge economy.

Leader of the Sahara Deck, Mr. Chike Onyia, who made the call in a statement to commemorate the 2025 International Literacy Day themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era: Bridging the Gap,” lamented the exclusion of many young people from digital learning.

He said: “Globally, digital literacy is measured by one’s ability to use, understand, evaluate and create information using digital technologies and the Internet. With the proliferation of IDP camps, street hawking and rising cases of out-of-school children, we need to work extra hard to attain a respectable level of digital literacy in the country and the FCT.”

Onyia warned that Nigeria cannot afford to be complacent. “In this digital era, there is an urgent need to invest heavily in digital skills, especially among the young. The world is increasingly turning attention to digital skills, and we cannot afford to be left behind. Unfortunately, we still grapple with the issue of basic amenities in most government-run schools.”

He further appealed to relevant authorities: “We call on the FCT Minister, the Senator representing the territory, and other stakeholders to give special attention to schools in rural and underserved areas, where facilities are particularly poor.”