Governor Abiodun Calls for Urgent Action on Out-of-School Children Crisis
Governor Abiodun Calls for Urgent Action on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Crisis
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has called for urgent action to address the growing challenge of Almajiri and out-of-school children, describing it as a national crisis that must be tackled before it escalates. He made this statement while hosting members of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Governor Abiodun emphasized that the issue affects the entire country, not just certain regions. He revealed that he had discussed potential solutions with the National Security Adviser, breaking them down into immediate, medium, and long-term strategies. “This is like a dormant volcano that could erupt at any moment,” he warned, referencing the high number of northern youths involved in recent protests, many of whom were Almajiri children used as tools by manipulators.
He expressed confidence that under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, particularly with the Renewed Hope agenda, significant progress can be made in reducing the number of Almajiri and out-of-school children. The governor committed to doing his part as Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, despite Ogun State’s relatively lower number of out-of-school children compared to northern states.
Governor Abiodun noted that Ogun State has a higher-than-average number of out-of-school children in the southwest, which he attributed to the state’s growing population from other parts of the country. He outlined steps his administration is taking to address the situation.
Earlier, Hon. Almustapha Rabah, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Alternative Education, pointed out that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, trailing only Pakistan and India. Dr. Muhammad Idris, Executive Secretary of the Commission, added that about 30 million Almajiri are roaming Nigerian streets due to parental neglect.
Governor Abiodun stressed the need for collective efforts to prevent these vulnerable children from being manipulated into destabilizing the nation.