The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has raised alarms over the rising number of out-of-school children in Abuja.
During a meeting with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), he expressed his frustration.
“The number of out-of-school children in the FCT has become annoying,” Wike stated.
The meeting took place on Thursday when UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Hamid Bobboyi, visited Wike’s office in Abuja.
Wike pointed out that the problem of out-of-school children is a national crisis.
He specifically mentioned the challenges related to girl child education and children roaming the streets.
“This is the function of UBEC,” he said, urging the agency to intensify its efforts.
Wike recalled his previous work in education, where he helped start Almajiri schools.
He visited many states, focusing on educational initiatives in the North, South West, South-South, and South East.
“We tried to see what we could do,” he said, reflecting on past efforts.
Wike noted that UBEC has built many schools and provided essential supplies to students in the past.
However, he expressed concern that the number of out-of-school children has tripled.
“I don’t know what it is now because the number has tripled. It’s so annoying,” he said.
He acknowledged UBEC’s efforts but stressed that state governments need to support these initiatives.
“Many states do not want to pay the counterpart funding, which is very unfortunate,” Wike added.
He linked the rise in out-of-school children to ongoing insecurity in the country.
“The insecurity we are talking about today can never be resolved if we don’t bring these children back to school,” he stated firmly.
Wike also mentioned the increasing influx of people into the FCT from other parts of Nigeria.
This has further complicated the issue of out-of-school children in the capital.
The FCT Administration is making efforts to tackle this problem, according to Wike.
“We are doing our best to address the situation,” he assured.
Wike’s call for action comes as Nigeria faces a significant education crisis.
According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, estimated at 10.5 million.
Many of these children come from poor families, and conflicts in various regions exacerbate the issue.
Wike emphasized that addressing the education crisis is vital for the country’s future.
Wike pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration for UBEC’s activities.
He believes collaboration is essential to bring more children back to school.
“Together, we can change the narrative,” Wike said, encouraging a united front.
In a related matter, Wike responded to a request for land allocation from UBEC.
He criticized institutions that receive land but fail to develop it.
He pointed out that this practice leads to the creation of shanties and increases criminal activity.
