Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stark warning regarding the troubling increase in out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria, emphasizing that this critical issue requires immediate attention from all stakeholders involved.
Obasanjo cautioned that if this trend continues unchecked, it could create a breeding ground for the recruitment of a new generation of Boko Haram insurgents.
During a speech at the inauguration of road infrastructure projects in Bauchi State on Sunday, he expressed his concerns about the potential regression to the dark days when the notorious Islamic militant group first emerged and wreaked havoc in the North-East region.
While acknowledging the efforts of Governor Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, who reported a reduction of approximately 700,000 out-of-school children from the 1.5 million figure inherited in 2019, Obasanjo stressed the pressing need for united action to combat this escalating threat.
He stated, “The staggering number of out-of-school children in the Northern region poses a significant risk, creating a vast reservoir of potential recruits for insurgent organizations, which jeopardizes national security and perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality.”
Obasanjo called for a concerted effort from everyone in the region to address this precarious situation, asserting that “all hands must be on deck to tackle this challenge.”
In response, Governor Bala Mohammed highlighted his administration’s accomplishments in the education sector, proudly noting that various measures have led to a 50% reduction in the number of out-of-school children within his five-year tenure.
He credited this achievement to collaborative efforts with relevant agencies, particularly International Development Partners working in the state’s education sector.
The Governor assured that strategies have been intensified to ensure that the remaining out-of-school children are effectively reintegrated into the educational system.
