BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
THE Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) has marked its 25th anniversary with a resounding call for stronger collective action toward achieving inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all Nigerians, in alignment with Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking on the coalition’s remarkable journey, Dr Rachael Misan-Ruppee described the silver jubilee as “a cheery milestone in CSACEFA’s journey of championing impactful advocacy and crafting novel initiatives that promote access to quality education for every Nigerian child.”
According to her, CSACEFA was founded in 2000, following the World Education Summit in Dakar, Senegal. CSACEFA has grown from a network of 40 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to over 600 member organisations spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Over the years, the coalition has been at the forefront of mobilising, coordinating, and advocating for education reforms from the civil society perspective.
“Through persistent advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and innovative programmes, CSACEFA has organised countless forums, symposia, and sensitisation drives that have positively impacted underserved communities, creating opportunities for millions of children to access basic education,” she said.
However, the celebration was not without reflection on the challenges ahead. Dr Misan-Ruppee cited UNICEF’s troubling statistics indicating that over 10.5 million Nigerian children aged five–14 are still out of school, stressing that “one in every five out-of-school children globally is in Nigeria.”
She emphasised that poverty and gender inequality remain major barriers to education, particularly in the northern regions where cultural and economic factors limit girls’ access to schooling.
“We must intensify our efforts to address poverty and gender inequality, as these are critical threats to the progress we seek,” she urged, adding that CSACEFA must also push harder to influence policies that alleviate poverty and tackle Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), which affects an estimated two million Nigerian children.
Dr Misan-Ruppee noted that in Delta, the coalition’s growth and impact have been particularly notable. From just five member organisations in 2006, Delta CSACEFA now boasts over 15 active members.
Among them is the Patmon Community Development Centre (PACODEC), based in Eku, which joined in 2005. “This milestone should not only inspire pride but rekindle our dedication to the collective vision, where every child, regardless of gender, background, or location, has access to quality education,” she added.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Patmon Community Development Centre (PACODEC), Amb. Monday Ifoghere acknowledged that CSACEFA has been instrumental in shaping education policy through collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, legislators, and international partners, while noting that in Delta State, membership has grown from five to over 15 active organisations.
