The recent protests in Northern Nigeria have starkly exposed the critical issue of widespread illiteracy and ignorance in the region. According to data from Statisense, citing UNICEF, there are at least 15 million out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria.
Such a significant number of out-of-school children can lead to them becoming vulnerable to exploitation by manipulators. Many young boys have been coerced into vandalising government properties intended for their benefit, as well as looting private businesses struggling to survive during the current nationwide protests to end bad governance.
The situation reached a troubling peak this week with the display of Russian flags by protesters, who mistakenly believed they were the same as the military flags seen in the president’s office. Additionally, the alleged looting of a library in Kano, with the exception of books, further highlights the gravity of the situation.
We are on the brink of a crisis if the elite and political leaders in Northern Nigeria do not urgently address the pervasive illiteracy in the region. Education plays a crucial role in transforming lives and society. Many of us are standing here today by the grace of God and the power of education.
Educating the out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria grants them access to: empowerment, personal growth, economic opportunities, social mobility, informed citizenship, problem-solving skills, adaptability, health and well-being, socialisation, and breaking the cycle of poverty
It is imperative that northern states make schooling up to at least senior secondary level compulsory, even if the federal government does not enforce this mandate.
Governors should also enact laws making it illegal for minors in their custody to forgo education. Schools should be held to high standards, enabling public institutions to compete effectively with private ones, as they once did.
Furthermore, child labour and street hawking must be urgently addressed and eliminated. These children need to be placed under proper family care and given the opportunity to attend school, just like their peers globally.
Additionally, it is crucial for protesters to demand greater accountability from their governors regarding the allocation and utilisation of extra funds received from the federal government.
Investing in the education of young people is not just an investment in their future but also in the future of our entire society. I hope history will be kind to the current set of leaders in a few years time.
Samuel Adeleke, an Abuja-based Journalist can be reached via [email protected]
