Children who have been forced from their homes by violence in Nigeria's Benue State face broken classrooms, missing toilets and taps, and long gaps in their schooling. That is the stark finding of a new education needs assessment presented in the state capital, Makurdi, on Thursday, 5 November, by UNICEF and the Benue State Government, as AIT reported.

But the report also comes with signs of a way forward. UNICEF says more than 1,000 displaced children are already enrolled in learning programmes in the state's camps, damaged classrooms have been repaired, and the agency and state officials have pledged to turn the report's recommendations into action.

What the assessment found

The study was carried out in July 2026 by UNICEF together with the Benue State Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and the State Universal Basic Education Board, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. It looked at camps for internally displaced people and the communities hosting them across six local government areas hit hardest by insecurity.

The picture is difficult. Many children, especially those living in camps, lack access to basic, good-quality education. Some schools operate in poor classrooms without essential facilities, and many lack safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Regular schooling has been badly disrupted.

Believe Eke, an education specialist at UNICEF's field office in Enugu, said the crisis has left children behind where they should be:

"Because of the crisis, these children are not where they want to be. While we are providing learning, we are also providing psychosocial support to help them cope with their experiences."

Help already reaching classrooms

Eke said UNICEF is already helping the state act on some of the recommendations. At the Abagana camp, classrooms whose roofs had been blown off have been renovated. Learning facilitators are being trained, learning materials are being provided, and both teachers and pupils are receiving psychosocial support to cope with what they have lived through.

The assessment also calls for flexible learning options for displaced children who cannot attend regular schools, along with better learning spaces, stronger teaching, and water and sanitation facilities.

The real test: putting the plan to work

Speaking for Benue's Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Margaret Adamu, Permanent Secretary Helen Nambativ said the assessment would give the government evidence to plan and direct resources to the places of greatest need. She named insecurity, displacement, rising numbers of out-of-school children, poor infrastructure and teacher-related problems as the main barriers, and urged partners to keep the recommendations practical and achievable.

The state reaffirmed its commitment to widening access to school and improving teachers' welfare. UNICEF and state agencies say they will keep monitoring how the recommendations are carried out in every affected area. As AIT put it, with the report delivered, the real test now lies in execution.

Why it matters

When conflict uproots families, school is often the first thing children lose and the hardest to get back. A clear map of what is missing, backed by repaired classrooms, trained facilitators and support for children's wellbeing, gives Benue's displaced children a real chance to keep learning while they wait to go home.

Learn more

• AIT: UNICEF Unveils Rapid Education Needs Assessment Report In Benue
• Peoples Gazette / News Agency of Nigeria: UNICEF champions support for education of children in IDP camps
• Africa Health Report: UNICEF Enrols Over 1,000 Displaced Children in Benue Learning Programmes

Sources: AIT, "UNICEF Unveils Rapid Education Needs Assessment Report In Benue," 6 November 2026; News Agency of Nigeria via Peoples Gazette, "UNICEF champions support for education of children in IDP camps," 5 November 2026; Africa Health Report, "UNICEF Enrols Over 1,000 Displaced Children in Benue Learning Programmes," 5 November 2026.

How you can help

These organisations work to keep children in Nigeria learning through conflict and displacement:

• UNICEF Nigeria supports the government to get children into school and learning, including children displaced by crisis.
• Save the Children Nigeria runs education programmes for children affected by emergencies, including rebuilding learning spaces and training teachers.
• Street Child helps out-of-school and conflict-affected children in Nigeria enrol in and stay in school.