UNICEF worries over increasing out-of-school children in Ogun

The United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has expressed worry over the rising number of out-of-school children in Ogun State, saying not less than 43.3 per cent of children in the state are not in school.

Chief of UNICEF Field Office for South West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, expressed the concern during an advocacy meeting with members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

Lafoucriere explained that the visit is to collaborate with the house in identifying these children, ensure they are re-channeled towards education and put in place adequate infrastructures, teachers and improve the quality of teaching education in the state.

She said, “Ogun is doing fairly well when we look at National numbers but for Southwest numbers there’s still lot of out-of-school children. So what we intend to do is strengthen this beautiful collaboration we have with the state government and reiterate our commitment to support the state.”

Azuka Menkuti, the Education Specialist UNICEF, Abuja office, while giving a breakdown of the out-of-school children across the country said, 25.6 per cent of children were recorded for primary schools, 24.9 per cent for junior secondary school and 34.3 per cent for upper secondary school.

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She said, “ For primary school age in Southwest 6.2% of children are not in school. The breakdown for Lagos state is 2.5%, Ogun 10.3%, Ekiti 2.4%, Ondo 4.5%, Osun 13% and Oyo 8.3%.

“For junior secondary school, in Southwest we have 8.5%. The breakdown for Lagos state is 4.2%, Ogun 12.1%, Ekiti 3.1%, Ondo 5.9%, Osun 18.7% and Oyo 10.6%.

“For upper secondary school in Southwest we have 19.2% with Ogun state having 20.9%.”

Responding, the Speaker of the house, Oludaisi Elemide, appreciated UNICEF for the visit adding that the assembly is ready to collaborate in tackling the menace.

He noted that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun had declared a state of emergency on education and recruited not less than 1,000 teachers.

In his remarks the member representing Ipokia/Idiroko State Constituency, Oyedele Jacob, expressed his willingness to partner with UNICEF adding that his constituency is one of the places that need to be worked on.

He lamented that because of the proximity to the border areas residents in his constituency are not moved about education.

Also speaking, the member representing Yewa North II, Haruna Abiodun noted that the issues of insecurity should be looked into citing examples of the attack of land grabbers and Fulani’s herdsmen as a major player in discouraging children from going to school.

Abiodun stressed that poverty has also played a major role, promising that they would look into the menace to provide possible solutions.