From Rashidat AbdulRahman, Minna
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello says the size of the state and high rate of insecurity has contributed to the high number of out of school children in the state.
The governor stated this at the official flag-off of 2022 National Campaign on Out of School Children in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, organized Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education at the Government House, Minna.
Governor Bello reemphasized that the state with large land mass must be supported as education is not cheap, hence there is need to build schools close to children, in order to achieve the desired objectives.
He said because of the security challenges faced in the state, as well as other parts of the country, parents find it difficult to release their wards to go to school.
“Obviously, anywhere there is insecurity, you don’t expect parents to allow their kids to go to school, especially in situations where they are being kidnapped for ransom,” he stated.
Minister of state for Education, Dr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba called on all stakeholders, philanthropists, and well to do individuals to support the campaign on out of school children as only that will cure illiteracy and improve the country economy.
Speaking on the challenges by the state, the minister said federal government is aware of the security challenges, adding that President Muhammedu Buhari has already directed all security agencies to be on ground to tackle insecurity in the state .
He assured the state of getting more support, especially in the light of its own peculiar circumstances, in order to be able to deal with the obstacles in the educational sector.
State Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Salihu stated that out of school children has been a global concern to the state and country at large. She therefore, called for continuous collaboration between the federal government and other organizations towards eradicating the challenges as over 200 children are out of school in Niger State.