President Bola Tinubu has stated that his administration is committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
According to a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu met with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Palais des Élysées.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reported in September 2022 that Nigeria has 20 million out-of-school children.
However, on June 24, the World Bank reported that 11 million Nigerian children are out of school. The bank stated that the results were based on the 2020 national education data survey.
Tinubu stated that his administration will prioritise education for Nigerian children through innovative back-to-school initiatives, skill development programs, and a supportive framework.
The president said:
“In order to bridge the gap for some who are of age and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development.”
“The insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, but we are gradually repopulating the classrooms. And we need skills development to bridge the gaps.”
The president noted that the “kinetic” strategies adopted have recorded progress in the peace-building process nationally.
“With some more effort, we will be able to get some level of stability. We had a very good harvest this year. And as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply,” he said.
In response, Macron highlighted Nigeria’s enormous growth potential and emphasised the need of investing in educational projects.
He reflected on his formative experiences from a six-month internship at the French embassy in Nigeria, which included trips to Lagos and Kano.