As the world commemorates the fifth International Day of Education, Save the Children International has expressed concern over the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
A statement by the Country Director, Save the Children International SCI Nigeria, Famari Barro said from all available records, children constitute a great number of the Nigerian population, and they are the future of the society.
Barro said any investment on children will not only propel the economic development of Nigeria but also guarantee an enduring peace, stability, accelerated growth and sustainable development of the country.
“According to UNICEF, the number of out of school children has increased from 10.5 million to 18.5 million in 2022 – that means, there are millions of good reasons to step up investment in education”.
The statement explains that, the theme of this year’s International Day of Education (IDE) is to invest in people, prioritize education, that builds on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022.
It says Access to school is not only essential for children’s wellbeing and ability to thrive here and now but it also a prerequisite for children to acquire the knowledge and skills that are central for building a life of opportunities.
Famari Barro stressed that, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria called on the government to ensure accessible, inclusive, safe, quality and free primary and secondary education that promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all children to realize and release their full potentials.
“SCI calls upon governments, donors, partners, the international community and key stakeholders to stand by their commitments to prioritize investment in education and educational transformation towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”
While we commend the Nigerian government for launching National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023 – 2026), we do appeal for its full implementation to guarantee the safety and security of children, teachers, school personnel and facilities.
Save the Children International (SCI) is Co-Leading Education in Emergencies Working Group with UNICEF, Federal Ministry of Education as the Lead. Save the Children International Nigeria has expanded its intervention from a single education project in 2016 to eighteen education projects covering emergency, development, and peace building nexus currently.
AMINU DALHATU
