According to data obtained from Daily Trust, 2.51% (127,067) of senior secondary school students dropped out nationwide during the 2023/2024 academic session. The figures show that 56.43% (71,701) of the dropouts were male, while 43.57% (55,366) were female.

Abia State recorded the highest number of dropouts, with a total of 36,700 students (19,475 males and 17,225 females). The breakdown shows that 12,550 students (7,050 males and 5,500 females) dropped out in SS1, 11,975 (6,250 males and 5,725 females) in SS2, and 12,175 (6,175 males and 6,000 females) in SS3.

Kano State followed closely with 30,863 dropouts (20,643 males and 10,220 females). The state recorded 6,063 dropouts (4,733 males and 1,330 females) in SS1, 10,800 (7,950 males and 2,850 females) in SS2, and 14,000 (7,960 males and 6,040 females) in SS3.

Ebonyi State ranked third, with 13,048 students dropping out (6,019 males and 7,029 females). The distribution indicates that 4,596 students (2,196 males and 2,400 females) left school in SS1, 4,488 (2,006 males and 2,482 females) in SS2, and 4,144 (1,817 males and 2,327 females) in SS3.

Other states with significant dropout numbers include:

• Sokoto State – 11,339 (7,610 males and 3,729 females)
• Kogi State – 9,094 (4,455 males and 4,639 females)
• Ondo State – 5,942 (3,090 males and 2,852 females)
• Katsina State – 4,738 (2,792 males and 1,946 females)
• Taraba State – 4,162 (2,107 males and 2,055 females)
• Osun State – 2,594 (1,278 males and 1,316 females)
• Kaduna State – 2,418 (1,037 males and 1,381 females)
• Plateau State – 1,709 (815 males and 894 females)
• Nasarawa State – 1,162 (592 males and 570 females)
• Bauchi State – 901 (476 males and 425 females)
• Gombe State – 617 (338 males and 279 females)
• Yobe State – 436 (301 males and 135 females)

States with the lowest number of dropouts include:

• Niger State – 381
• Kwara State – 238
• Zamfara State – 194
• Ekiti State – 171
• Anambra State – 96
• Benue State – 4

The data also indicated that no dropouts were recorded in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Lagos, and Ogun states.

Culled from Daily Trust: Thursday, March 6, 2025