British charity begins fresh moves to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis
By Jeffrey Agbo
With Nigeria’s whopping 18.3 million out-of-school children figure not showing signs of rapid dropping, an international charity has initiated fresh moves to tackle the crisis decisively.
The Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IAF), based in England, has thrown its hat in the ring to rescue education in Nigeria, which is Britain’s former colony in West Africa.
IA-Foundation has been a key player in the effort to tackle the worrisome out-of-school crisis in Nigeria, where UNICEF and UNESCO have reeled out huge figures of out-of-school children from year to year.
Founder of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, announced the resolve by the charity to tackle the problem, saying the initiative was to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
Adeagbo spoke with reporters on Friday in Lagos, while unfolding the latest plans by the foundation to assist Nigeria to grow.
She said that the foundation was currently working on what she described as a “roadmap”, to be unveiled by the foundation this month, to tackle the out-of-school problem to salvage early-child education in Nigeria.
According to her, the foundation has come out in full force, to help the Federal Government to turn the page in the crisis plaguing education.
“With over 18 million children out of school, Nigeria’s education landscape faces an unprecedented crisis.
“The nation’s economic and social future depends on our collective commitment to quality education,’’ the British-born Nigerian, who resides in London said.
She pointed out that Nigeria’s education system was at a critical juncture, grappling with severe challenges, including inadequate infrastructure and chronic underfunding.
“IA-Foundation is committed to driving actionable solutions at this point in time because we must secure a brighter future for our out-of-school children and Nigerian education in general.
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“Education is the cornerstone of development and progress,” Adeagbo added.
Adeagbo disclosed that an international summit on education had been slated for Lagos on Nov. 26 “because we cannot afford to overlook the urgent needs of the education sector”.
She said that the summit, tagged: “Street to School: A Tech-Based Solution to Address Nigeria’s Education Crisis,’’ would ignite critical discussions that would lead to substantial and measurable changes in the education landscape.
Adeagbo restated her call for the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to education in line with UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating 15 to 20 per cent of total public expenditure to the education sector.
She also called for strengthening of partnerships with civil society groups to fund educational initiatives, aimed at tackling various problems in the education sector, especially the out-of-school challenge.
Adeagbo said that Nigeria should implement initiatives targeted specifically at marginalised groups, including girls, children with disabilities and those from low-income families.
The IAF founder stressed the need for the government to utilise technology to boost learning opportunities, especially in remote communities and unserved areas.
Adeagbo said that Nigeria should also pay priority attention to training of teachers to equip them with skills to deliver quality education.
“We believe that Nigeria can establish a sustainable and inclusive educational framework that will leave no child behind,” she stated.
IA-Foundation has been campaigning over the years to tackle the out-of-school crisis, which has seen millions of kids forced out of school in Africa’s most populous nation.
The problem of insecurity, caused by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other anti-social ills, plaguing Nigeria for years has forced many children out of school.
But the Nigerian government has been fighting back to stamp out the negative activities, to allow children to have unrestricted access to the classrooms.
