By Peter Omopo
The Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria has announced intensified efforts to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge with the planned 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp (BEN-B) scheduled to hold in Jos, Plateau State.
The three-day education summit will take place from April 28 to 30 at Crispan Hotel, bringing together policymakers, education administrators, development partners, and other key stakeholders to develop practical solutions for improving access to basic education.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the bootcamp is designed to produce evidence-based strategies aimed at expanding inclusive and quality basic education, strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes, and reducing the number of out-of-school children nationwide.
The event will be led by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, while Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The government said the bootcamp builds on previous editions and aligns with ongoing education reforms aimed at improving access to quality learning across Nigeria. It noted that recent progress reviews have shown improvements in community learning centres, open schooling programmes, and education data tracking systems in participating states.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and support key reforms such as the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI), Literacy and Numeracy programmes, and expanded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education through sustained partnerships and policy-driven interventions.
