By Rotimi Agboluaje (Ibadan), Adewale Momoh (Akure), Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti) and Timothy Agbor (Osogbo)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Wednesday called on media practitioners to sustain advocacy on education issues, saying journalists have a critical role to play in driving policy actions and improving learning outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.

 Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, made the call during a two-day media dialogue on digital learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and skill development for out-of-school children (OOSC) held at Ede, Osun State.

Lafoucriere stressed that persistent and impactful reporting can compel stakeholders to address the country’s growing education challenges.

The UNICEF boss, who spoke through a recorded message, lamented the scale of learning poverty in Nigeria, revealing that only one in four children who attend school can read and perform basic mathematics by the age of 14.

She noted that beyond those already in school, millions of children remain excluded from the education system altogether.

“Think about that for one second. Of all the children in Nigeria who actually go to school, only one in four can read properly and do basic maths at age 14. Just one in four. And we are only talking about the children who make it to school. There are 10 million more who never get to school at all,” she said.

According to her, the statistics represent real children whose future opportunities are being limited by inadequate access to quality education.

She warned that the rapid advancement of technology and artificial intelligence would further widen inequalities if urgent measures were not taken to equip children with relevant skills.

“The children who know how to use these technologies will have a chance. The ones who don’t will be left out. Right now, out-of-school children in Nigeria are the ones being left out, and among them, girls are the furthest behind,” she added.

Lafoucriere urged journalists to keep education issues on the front burner, noting that sustained media attention often influences government policies and public action.

“When journalists keep coming back to an important story like this, week after week, people start paying attention. Policymakers listen, politicians listen, stakeholders listen. That is how things change.

“A story that does not go away is a story that gets acted upon,” she said.

She urged media practitioners to use the opportunity of the engagement to interact with beneficiaries of educational interventions and amplify stories that highlight both the challenges and opportunities within the sector.

The UNICEF official also lauded the Osun State Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for supporting initiatives aimed at improving access to education for vulnerable children.

She expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, communities and the media would help reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve learning outcomes across the country.

Lafoucriere maintained that ensuring every child has access to quality education remains critical to Nigeria’s future development and economic competitiveness.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Osun State Ministry of Education, Muritala Jimoh, education remains the most powerful tool for human development and economic growth, yet millions across Nigeria remain excluded due to rural socioeconomic conditions, cultural barriers and security challenges.

According to the Permanent Secretary, digital learning platforms are transforming knowledge delivery, making education more accessible, flexible, inclusive, and engaging.

Jimoh stressed that AI can help personalise learning experiences, identify gaps, support teachers, improve educational planning, and provide innovative solutions to reach children where traditional schools cannot.

He stated that “These children are deprived of opportunities to develop their own potentials and contribute meaningfully to society.”

He noted that digital technology and artificial intelligence now present unprecedented opportunities to bridge educational gaps, extending learning to vulnerable and marginalised children outside the formal system.

Jimoh added that education must go beyond academic achievement to include practical digital, entrepreneurial, and life skills necessary for self-reliance, with a call on the media to shape public perception, raise awareness, influence policy discourse, and mobilise community support.

Agencies which partnered with UNICEF included UBEC, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSE), SUBEBs, and World Bank, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Microsoft, among others.