Protest: NGO Expresses Worry Over Out-of-School Children In Northern Nigeria

Non-governmental organisation, TifaCDi and Policy House have called on both the federal government and state governors in the North to urgently address the alarming rate of out-of-children in the region.

The organisation made the call following the recent #EndBadGoveranceProtest, particularly in Nigeria’s northern region, describing it as deeply troubling reality and a ticking time bomb.

Executive Director of TifaCDi and Policy House, Taiwo Akerele in a release said, “The images of young people at the forefront of the protests are a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting education. These are children who should be in classrooms, acquiring knowledge and skills, not engaged in acts of vandalism and destruction.”

Akerele emphasized that the destruction of critical infrastructure during the protests, allegedly perpetrated by young people, is a direct result of systemic failures in education. “The absence of quality education leaves a void that is easily filled by extremist ideologies and criminal activities.

“TifaCDi and Policy House are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the education sector in northern Nigeria. This includes:

“Substantial increase in budgetary allocation for basic education. Robust teacher training and development programs. Investment in modern educational infrastructure and resources.

“We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer,” Akerele added. “The future of our nation depends on educating our youth. Failure to act now will have catastrophic consequences for generations to come.”

“The North East and North West as a geo political block needs to increase its spending and investment in the basic education sector by 25% over the next 10 years in order to avoid the cliff of the danger zone of human capital collapse’ Akerele added.

He said TifaCDi and Policy House will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for policies that prioritize education and youth development.