Group Unveils Platform For Returning 500 Children To School

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), LA-IRIS Human Development Initiatives, has unveiled  a platform aimed at reintegrating over 500  out-of-school children in northern Nigeria into formal education.

The executive director of LA-IRIS Revd Darong Mancha, who  spoke at the launch of the platform at the Unity Hall of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru near Jos, said the initiative seeks to tackle the rising number of children excluded from schooling due to insecurity, poverty and cultural barriers.

According to him, UNICEF’s 2025 reports revealed that Nigeria accounts for 15% of the world’s out-of-school children, with 7.8 million people requiring urgent humanitarian assistance while 3.7 million are internally displaced.

The executive director further disclosed that the goal is to provide vulnerable children with quality education and opportunities for empowerment.

“We must acknowledge that these are not just numbers, but empirical reports that require very urgent attention as this category of children are struggling to access daily necessities such as foods health care and shelter

“We are gathered here today for the vision casting of La-Iris Human Development Initiatives to see how we can supplement other existing human efforts to alleviate the plight of the vulnerable in society,” he said.

Mancha noted that the platform will collaborate with communities, government agencies, and stakeholders to identify out-of-school children and support them with education and vocational training.

He maintained that between now and September 2026, the organisation intends to raise scholarships and increase the profiling of 500 vulnerable and indigent out-of-school children in the north and other parts of Nigerian society,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Prof Yusuf Turaki, a renowned cleric represented by Dr Yakubu Samuel in his key note address called on privileged individuals and institutions to support education for the vulnerable children in the society.

“It’s unfortunate that our schools are closed. Some children are out of school not because of insecurity… but because they have been told that education is a scam.

“We need to support every child in education… We need to establish a community-based education support system,” he said.

In the same vein, the chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Juliet Horace-Nwabunweng

and a former governorship aspirant in Plateau State Apostle Chris Bature urged parents and communities to embrace the programme, stressing that education remains a fundamental right.

The duo also called on well meaning Nigerians to partner with La-Irish Development Initiative to achieve this great task ahead of them.