At LEADERSHIP Podcast, Nigerian Children Demand Improved Access To Education

Children in Nigeria have identified poor education, infrastructure and out of school children among the issues that needed urgent attention.
The children are worried that, if the federal government fails to address the issues facing the education sector with urgency, the country may be heading towards calamity.
Some Nigerian children share their thoughts about the country’s future and their own prospects while being featured on the Programme “Nigeria We want,” a co-created content by LEADERSHIP media group, in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
The programme featured some Government Secondary Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Government Secondary School Lugbe and Wuse respectively.
An SS 3 student of GSS Lugbe, James Ebube, during an interview session urged the government to improve the education sector.
She said the issue of out of school children also needed to be addressed with urgency as it was having a negative impact on the country.
“I want the federal government to improve our educational sector and also work more to provide enough infrastructure.
“The out-of-school children are increasing the rate of illiteracy in the country, some people do not have the budget to go to school but if the government will do something about it I believe the country will be better.
“If I have my way I will go out of this country, study and come back and impact the country,” she added.
Also, Nwandugo Emmanuel Izuchukwu, an SS2 B of GSS Lugbe urged the government to employ more qualified teachers in public schools since the private schools are more after money and awarding certificates to students.
On the imperative of the programme, she said, “The programme was very nice because I expressed how I felt about the government and what the government should be doing to help improve our educational system.
“It also helped me to improve in my confidence because I never believe I will go this far as to be hosted for a programme like this on television. So, I’m so excited.
“Government should improve our schools’ facilities, employ more teachers because more hands must be on deck to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.
“I want to also encourage my fellow students those great men of our time do not have everything on the Plata of gold. So, they must try to work hard to get to where they want to be in life. You cannot be everything you want to be but you just have to believe in yourself, work hard towards your goals and you will achieve them,” he said.