Keep Children Out Of School, Face Arrest In Anambra, Soludo Warns Parents

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned that parents who keep their children out of school risk arrest and prosecution, saying denial of education constitutes a criminal offence in the state.

He issued the warning on Wednesday in Awka during the 2026 Children’s Day celebration themed “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”

Soludo said the state would begin full enforcement of its zero-tolerance policy on out-of-school children, stressing that free education is already available across Anambra.

“We will commence full enforcement. If we grab any child within school hours, we will criminalise it for the parents,” he said.

“We will arrest the parents and lock them up for a few days and insist the child goes to school. For me, it is criminal to deny any child education, especially now that we have free education.”

He said enforcement would focus on parents and guardians whose children are found loitering or engaging in street trading during school hours.

“As part of our reforms, the punishment will lie with the parents,” he added.

Soludo said Anambra currently has one of the lowest rates of out-of-school children in the country, citing a 2.9 per cent estimate from UNESCO, which he said predates the state’s free education policy.

He reaffirmed the government’s target of reducing the figure to zero and announced plans to establish a Juvenile Correctional Centre to separate child offenders from adults.

The governor also pledged stronger inclusive education policies and the creation of a toll-free desk to report child abuse.

He further delivered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Children’s Day message, stressing that every Nigerian child deserves inclusion regardless of background or ability.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Esther Onyekesi, commended ongoing child welfare initiatives in the state and urged children to remain focused and disciplined.