The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that low access to Early Childhood Education (ECE) across Northwest Nigeria is posing a serious threat to education outcomes in the region.

Dr. Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, disclosed this while speaking at a media dialogue on strengthening early childhood education in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina, held in Dutse.

He revealed that only about 24 per cent of children in Jigawa State have access to ECE, while Kano has 29 per cent and Katsina 32 per cent.

Dr. Singh described the situation as alarming, saying that the majority of children in the region are missing the critical early learning phase that shapes cognitive, social, and emotional development.

According to him, children who lack access to quality early education are more likely to start primary school behind their peers and struggle to catch up, a factor contributing to the region’s growing out-of-school children crisis.

He further disclosed that foundational literacy levels in some parts of the region remain below 15 per cent, indicating that many children are unable to read at even the most basic level.

He linked this to limited parental awareness, a shortage of trained teachers, poor infrastructure, and inadequate learning materials, which continue to hinder the expansion of early childhood education.

The UNICEF official, however, stressed that the challenges are surmountable with stronger commitment and investment from state governments.

He called on the authorities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to prioritise early childhood education through increased funding, recruitment of qualified caregivers, and the expansion of child-friendly learning spaces.

UNICEF Education Specialist, Mustapha Shehu, said available data from MICS 2022 shows that, in Nigeria, only 37.8 per cent of children between the ages of three and four have access to early childhood education.

“Large inequalities persist, with 75 per cent of children aged 36 to 59 months in the richest wealth quintile attending early childhood education, while only 11 per cent of those in the lowest wealth quintile do,” he said.

Dr. Sunday Jacob, an education consultant, said Nigeria has 18.3 million out-of-school children, with Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina accounting for 30 per cent of the figure.

He said investing in early childhood education is fundamental to reducing the number of out-of-school children, as it contributes to 90 per cent of brain development.

He advised the states to create dedicated budget lines for early childhood education.

Responding, the Commissioners for Basic Education in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa pledged to ensure adequate budgetary provisions for early childhood education and the timely release of funds for the development of their respective states and the country at large.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that elements within the All Progressives Congress, APC, are planning to disrupt the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor claimed that certain actors in the opposition party were resorting to anti-democratic tactics due to fear of losing the forthcoming poll.

The statement asserted that the alleged plot was driven by internal assessments within the opposition, which purportedly showed dwindling public support for the party ahead of the election.

“Having seen clearly that Osun people have rejected them, they are now resorting to anti-democratic means in a last-ditch effort to secure power,” the statement read.

According to the governor’s camp, opinion surveys allegedly commissioned between late 2025 and March 2026 placed the APC’s popularity below 30 per cent, while Adeleke’s approval rating ranged between 68 and 72 per cent.

“This clearly shows that Governor Adeleke enjoys overwhelming support from the people. The opposition can already see the outcome ahead of August 15,” he added.

The governor further alleged that recent remarks by Akin Ogunbiyi concerning the position of President Bola Tinubu unsettled factions within the Osun APC.

He claimed that the situation heightened tensions among party members, particularly within factions linked to former governor Adegboyega Oyetola, prompting what he described as desperate political manoeuvres.

The statement also accused the opposition of attempting to destabilise other political platforms and pushing for their deregistration after failing to gain control.

Reacting, the Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, dismissed the allegations, describing them as unfounded and indicative of anxiety within the governor’s camp.

Olabisi said, “This is simple arithmetic. Those eminent politicians in their camp have all left. Look at Wole Oke, Fadahunsi, Ajilesoro, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi and many others.

“So, what is left of their party? Apart from the fact that their party is unpopular, it is also spineless. The people of Osun should discountenance Adeleke because he doesn’t know what he is saying.”

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has assured party members that the party will participate fully in the 2027 general elections, dismissing concerns over ongoing legal challenges.

Speaking Wednesday night after receiving a briefing from the party’s legal team on a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mark expressed confidence that the party would overcome all litigations.

“You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party,” he said.

“I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.”

He added that the party was fully prepared to pursue all legal options. “We are more than ready for these cases and will do everything within the ambit of the law to surmount every situation,” Mark stated, pledging to personally lead the party through the legal process.

The ADC’s legal team has already initiated an appeal against the judgment and filed for a stay of execution, signaling the party’s determination to challenge the ruling.

Mark’s reassurance came as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, a period seen as critical for consolidating its political footing.

Party officials say the development is expected to boost confidence among members and supporters while reinforcing the ADC’s resolve to remain a key contender.

Earlier, the legal team briefed Mark and other party leaders on the implications of the court decision and outlined strategies for the cases ahead.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.

“Until his nomination, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.

“Enikanolaiye is a distinguished diplomat and seasoned public servant with over three decades of exemplary service in Nigeria’s foreign service. He has previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held key diplomatic postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

“The President noted that these appointments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships.

“President Tinubu congratulates the appointees and urges them to work diligently to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad,” he said.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has approved the appointment of Dr Mohammed Goje as the Acting Secretary to the State Government, with immediate effect.

The approval was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Buni’s Media Aide, Mamman Mohammed.

According to the statement, Goje, until his appointment, was the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The governor urged the new appointee to rededicate himself to the service of the state and the betterment of its people.

The appointment follows the emergence of former Secretary to the State Government, Baba Malam Wali, as the preferred successor to Governor Buni ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State chapter, have petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda over the ambition of the National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, Issac Kekemeke, to contest the ticket of the Ondo South Senatorial District.

According to the leaders from Agadagba-Obon, in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state, which is the same axis as the party’s national vice-chairman, Kekemeke’s intention is ill-timed and ill-conceived.

Kekemeke had, a few days ago, declared his ambition to secure the ticket following the recent appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as the Nigerian permanent representative to the United Nations.

While expressing concern over the development, the concerned chieftains of the party emphasised that it will be morally wrong for Kekemeke to contest the ticket, particularly since he hailed from the same local government area as Ambassador Sola Iji, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, and also the same federal constituency as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

In the petition, they maintained that Kekemeke’s quest contradicts the Electoral Act, Sections 84 and 88, which state that political appointees must resign before pursuing elective positions.

According to the leaders of the party, Kekemeke, as of present, is still holding office as both the zonal chairman of APC and the chairman of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

The petition read in parts, “It is also on record that during the last governorship election, Hon. Kekemeke did not resign from his position before contesting, allegedly under similar protection.” This pattern must not be allowed to repeat itself.

“We therefore insist that Hon. Kekemeke must publicly present his resignation letter and proof of acknowledgement from both his role as Chairman of NIPOST and as APC South-West Zonal Chairman. This is necessary not only to ensure compliance with the law but also to safeguard the integrity of our party and prevent avoidable litigation.

“We call on the national leadership of the APC to uphold the party’s constitution, principles and the provisions of the Electoral Act.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Sokoto State has rejected the dissolution of its state executive committee by the party’s national leadership, describing the move as unconstitutional and lacking legal basis.

The party’s national headquarters had, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudu Mohammed, announced the immediate dissolution of the Sokoto State executive committee.

It also named a 15-member caretaker committee to oversee party affairs in the state, with Hayatu Tafida as chairman and Ahmed S. Pawa as secretary.

Reacting, the Sokoto State PDP Chairman, Bello Goronyo, dismissed the decision, insisting that the state executive remains the legitimate leadership of the party.

According to him, the executive committee was duly elected and cannot be dissolved without due process.

“When I saw the statement, I laughed because you cannot simply dissolve an elected executive. It cannot be done in that manner.

“We were duly elected into office, and only a court of law has the authority to remove us. Therefore, we remain the legitimate leaders of the PDP in Sokoto State,” he said.

Goronyo also acknowledged the ongoing leadership dispute within the party at the national level, which is currently before the Supreme Court, but maintained that it does not affect the tenure of the state executive.