The Cross River State Government is collaborating with the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to craft Education Sector Plans for the state.

Speaking to reporters in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State in the South-South region of Nigeria, the State Government clarified that the initiative was undertaken to achieve the goal of zero out-of-school children across all eighteen local government areas of the state. Additionally, the aim is to provide quality education to internally displaced persons and other residents in the state.

The Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Education in Cross River State emphasized that the program aims to ensure every child’s right to quality education. This is why the state has partnered with the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

According to Dr. Lara Ogunsola, representing the Acting Director-General/Chief Executive of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), the Education Sector Plans are currently underway across eight focal states. These plans involve the assessment and review of existing sector plan documents, including Education Sector Performance Assessment Tools (ESPAT), State Education Strategic Plans (SESP), State Education Sector Operational Plans (SESOP), and Local Education Sector Operational Plans (LESOP).

The eight focal states are Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Cross River, Gombe, and Katsina.