Save the Children Nigeria, has called on government to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education that promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all, with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The group made the call as the world commemorated the year 2022 International Day of Education.
In a statement, it urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill the commitment he made at the Global Education Summit (GPE) in 2021 to increase education funding to 14 per cent by 2022, 16.7 per cent in 2023, 20 per cent by 2024, and 22.5 per cent by 2025.
The group said it is high time the government and all stakeholders prioritised education, support it with cooperation, partnerships, and funding, and recognise that leaving no one behind starts with education.
Country Director of the group, Ms. Mercy Gichuhi, said: “Children constitute a great number of the world’s population and are the future of the society.
She lamented that the worst option is to see a generation of children and young people who lack the skills they need to compete in the 21st-century economy or leave behind half of humanity.
The Director explained that the price of not providing necessary skills to the leaders of tomorrow is a catastrophe and called on stakeholders to give child education a priority.
Rel/Adamu Yusuf