The Gombe State Government has warned parents that failure to enrol their children in school could attract a two-month jail term or hefty fines, in line with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Amendment Law 2021.

Executive Secretary of SUBEB, Babaji Babadidi, issued the warning on Monday during the flag-off of the 2025/2026 school enrolment drive campaign in Akko Local Government Area.

The campaign was organised by SUBEB in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and UNICEF.

Babadidi said the campaign aims to bring at least 400,000 out-of-school children back into classrooms across the state.

He stressed that the success of the programme depends on parental cooperation and warned that offenders would face penalties under Section 19 of the law, which mandates parents to ensure their children complete both primary and secondary education.

“The programme, tagged Operation Enrol All Children in Schools, is our deliberate effort to address the challenge of out-of-school children in Gombe State,” Babadidi said.

Commissioner for Education, Aishatu Maigari, expressed concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children, which she estimated at over 700,000—nearly 20% of the state’s population of four million.

She said the government’s substantial investment in free education would be wasted if parents fail to take advantage of it.

The Head of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, commended Gombe for prioritising education and pledged continued support to ensure every child’s right to education is fulfilled.

Also speaking, the Emir of Gona, Umar Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, pledged the emirate’s support, while the Education Secretary of Akko, Mannuwa Hamji, linked widespread illiteracy to juvenile delinquency and thuggery among youths.

The campaign launch saw several children formally enrolled in nursery and primary schools, marking the start of a renewed push to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.