Group Laments 10.5m Out-of-School Children in Nigeria

A civil society organisation, which focuses on the protection of education in emergency situations and keeping schools and students safe in Nigeria, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), has lamented that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria stood at 10.5 million.

The Director of the organisation, Mr. Abideen Olasupo, made the disclosure in Ilorin yesterday at a press conference to mark the 2022 Global Action Week for Education (GAWE).

He, however, called on the government to take more proactive measures to improve security within and around schools to arrest growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Olasupo stated that attacks on schools and students are a threat to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 which he said focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong opportunities for all.

He added that number of children being prevented from accessing education was on the increase due to partial and total closure of schools occasioned by attacks on schools and abduction of students.

The group, which commended efforts of the state government at making schools and students safe in the state, said ensuring security in schools and among students is the responsibility of every stakeholder.