SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has called on stakeholders to rethink the design and delivery of education in the country, stressing that young people must be engaged as partners and co-creators rather than passive recipients of learning.
The organisation, which supports children and young people without parental care or those at risk of losing it, said meaningful education must combine care, relationships and empowerment to help learners become their strongest selves.
The call was made by the National Director, Mr. Eghosa Erhumwunse, in a statement to mark the 2026 International Day of Education, themed “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.” The annual observance recognises young people as agents of change in promoting inclusive, equitable and quality education, as well as peaceful and just societies.
Erhumwunse said the future of education in Nigeria depends on the active involvement of young people in shaping what and how they learn. He advocated institutionalised youth participation in education planning, greater investment in digital, green and vocational skills, and the creation of inclusive platforms where students can influence decisions about their learning journeys.
“On this International Day of Education, we call on government, development partners, educators and the private sector to move beyond rhetoric and commit to genuine partnership with young people. Education systems that listen to youth and build alongside them are better positioned to deliver equity, relevance and long-term impact,” he said.
According to SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, infrastructure and curriculum reforms alone are not enough. The organisation noted that while buildings and revised syllabuses are important, they do not guarantee meaningful learning without relevance and learner ownership.
“Infrastructure alone does not guarantee meaningful learning, just as curriculum reform without relevance does not inspire ownership,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that education systems risk disengagement when they fail to harness the creativity, experiences and ideas of young people. It added that global evidence increasingly shows that youth participation improves learning outcomes and strengthens commitment to education.
“Education becomes stronger, more relevant and more sustainable when young people are recognised as co-creators rather than passive recipients,” the group said, noting that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 will require a cultural shift that embeds youth voice, innovation and leadership at the centre of education reform.
While describing Nigeria’s large youth population as a national asset, Erhumwunse lamented that millions of children remain out of school or are taught in poorly resourced environments.
“Education remains Nigeria’s greatest opportunity, but also one of its most urgent challenges. While progress has been made in expanding access, strengthening teacher training and improving learning environments, millions of children are still excluded, and many classrooms remain overcrowded, under-resourced or disconnected from young people’s lived realities,” he said.
The organisation acknowledged government and partner investments in school reconstruction, learning materials, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as teacher development, describing them as critical foundations for quality education.
Erhumwunse also highlighted SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria’s youth-led initiatives as practical examples of co-creation. Through its Eco Champions platform, young people are supported to design and implement solutions to challenges in their communities.
One such initiative is the Eco Sustainable Future Project led by an Eco Champion in Calabar, Cross River State, who developed a Climate Playbook to connect climate education with practical action. About 400 copies were produced, with 360 distributed to students in eight secondary schools and 40 donated to school libraries.
“Many learners were inspired by sections showing how waste can be upcycled into reusable bags and footstools, linking climate knowledge to creativity and livelihood opportunities. The Climate Playbook has become a tool for behavioural change, youth empowerment and leadership development,” Erhumwunse said.
He stressed that co-creation bridges theory and practice, producing problem-solvers invested in the future of their communities, and called for the scaling of youth-led, context-responsive initiatives alongside sustained investments in infrastructure, teacher development, learning materials and safe learning environments.
