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Tinubu Unveils Bold Plan to Tackle Nigeria’s Out-of-School Crisis and Empower the Next Generation

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 29th, 2024.

Tinubu Unveils Bold Plan to Tackle Nigeria’s Out-of-School Crisis and Empower the Next Generation

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s determination to prioritize education for Nigeria’s youth, promising to tackle the alarming number of out-of-school children through innovative solutions. Speaking during a discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des Élysée in France on Thursday, Tinubu shared his plans to bring children back into the classroom with initiatives aimed at both educational reintegration and skills development.

He stressed the importance of motivation and acquiring practical skills as part of the strategy to combat the country’s educational challenges.

Accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President told Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron that Nigeria’s future progress hinges on ensuring that more of its children have access to quality education. This message was captured in a statement titled “President Tinubu Commits to Reintegrating Out-of-School Children and Equipping Them for Future Success,” released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

“We are focused on helping older children who have missed out on schooling by encouraging them to develop new skills,” Tinubu said, acknowledging that insecurity in some regions has hindered educational attendance. He emphasized that efforts to reopen classrooms across the nation were already underway and stressed that skills training would be a key component of bridging the education gap.

The President also highlighted the progress made in improving security throughout the country, using what he described as “kinetic” strategies to restore peace.

“We are making strides toward greater stability. This year’s harvest was strong, and with more farmers returning to their fields, we anticipate even greater stability in food production,” Tinubu added.

He concluded with a strong message: “No child should go to bed hungry in the 21st century.”

President Macron recognized Nigeria’s vast growth potential and the importance of investing in its education sector. Recalling his own experiences in Nigeria during a six-month internship at the French Embassy, he underscored the significance of strong educational partnerships between France and Nigeria. Macron, along with his wife, expressed gratitude to the Tinubus for their hospitality and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties.

Nigeria currently faces a severe educational crisis, with over 18 million children out of school, according to a May 2024 UNICEF report, making it one of the countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.

This challenge is particularly pronounced in northern states such as Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe, where the out-of-school rate exceeds 60%. Factors such as poor infrastructure, economic hardship, cultural practices, and insecurity contribute to the crisis. In addition, frequent terrorist attacks on schools and incidents of student kidnappings have led to the closure of numerous schools, further limiting access to education.