The Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (SAIL) Foundation has launched a major education intervention to return 1,178 out-of-school children to classrooms across Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The initiative, tagged “Second Chance: A SAIL Foundation Education Development Initiative,” was unveiled on Sunday by former Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, as part of efforts to widen access to secondary education in Yobe North Senatorial District.

The beneficiaries were selected from 17 secondary schools in Nguru, with the foundation committing to fully fund their secondary education for the duration of their studies.

The sponsorship package goes beyond payment of school fees, covering school bags, textbooks, uniforms and sandals to ensure the beneficiaries have the basic materials required for effective participation in school.

Lawan said the initiative was driven by his belief that poverty or difficult circumstances should not prevent children from receiving an education.

“Education remains the most enduring investment we can make in our youth. I have never wavered in the conviction that no child should be left behind because of his or her circumstance,” he said.

The former Senate President said the foundation remained committed to creating opportunities for young people in Yobe North and across the state.

As part of preparations for the new academic session, the foundation will begin the measurement and fitting of uniforms and sandals for beneficiaries on Monday, July 27, 2026.

The exercise is scheduled to commence at 8am at Galadima Maidunoma Mega School, Nguru, opposite Zangon Shanu.

The organising committee, chaired by Comrade Bashir Sharif Tahir, SAIL Coordinator for Nguru, will coordinate beneficiaries drawn from the 17 participating schools.

Lawan urged parents, guardians and school proprietors to ensure that beneficiaries attend the exercise promptly to facilitate a smooth distribution process.

He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to advancing education and creating sustainable opportunities for young people in Yobe North, Yobe State and beyond.

The intervention comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over out-of-school children in northern Nigeria, where poverty, insecurity and limited access to educational facilities continue to affect school enrolment and retention.