UNICEF has raised a fresh alarm over the persistently low access to early childhood education in Jigawa, Kano and Katsina.

UNICEF raised concern that the region is fast falling behind in laying the foundation for future learning and development, especially due to low funding.

The officer-in-charge of the UNICEF Field Office Kano, Karanveer Singh, raised the concern at a two-day media dialogue on strengthening ECE held in Dutse, Jigawa.

He described early learning as “one of the most powerful and cost-effective investments any society can make”, stressing that failure to act now would deepen Nigeria’s learning crisis.

According to him, only about 29 per cent of children in Kano have access to early childhood education, while Katsina stands at approximately 32 per cent and Jigawa trails further behind at about 24 per cent.

“These figures are not just statistics; they represent children being denied the strongest start in life,” Mr Singh warned, noting that the situation is most severe in rural and underserved communities.

He cautioned that the region’s already high out-of-school children crisis and widespread learning poverty are being compounded by poor access to foundational education, with literacy rates in some communities reportedly below 15 per cent.

UNICEF, he said, is particularly concerned that many children are entering primary school without basic cognitive, social, and emotional readiness, making it difficult for them to catch up later in life.

He observed that early childhood education is where inequality either begins or is prevented, adding that the first five years of life, especially from birth to age five, are critical for brain development and lifelong learning outcomes.

Mr Singh outlined key challenges affecting the sector, including limited parental awareness, a shortage of trained caregivers, weak infrastructure, and inadequate learning materials.

However, he stressed that these gaps can be addressed with stronger political will and increased investment.

“UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting state governments through teacher training, provision of play-based learning materials, community sensitisation, and improved education data systems for better planning,” he said.

He further urged authorities to go further by prioritising ECCDE in state budgets, recruiting trained early childhood educators, and expanding child-friendly learning spaces across communities.

“The media also has a critical role to play. Your reporting can shape public understanding, influence policy direction, and bring urgency to this silent crisis,” he told journalists.

The UNICEF official also called on journalists to highlight gaps, tell human stories from communities, and amplify the voices of children and teachers to drive accountability and reform.

The dialogue ended with a renewed call for stronger collaboration between government, civil society, the media, and development partners to ensure that every child in the North-West gets a fair and strong start in life.

(NAN)