Education

Tackling Nigeria’s Out-of-School Children Menace

Published

4 years ago

26/06/2021

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

As both the federal and state governments in Nigeria continue to allow the rate of out-of-school children, especially in the northern part of Nigeria, to swell in number, even when it is obvious that the streets are known for breeding all forms of criminals and other social misfits who constitute the real threat in the forms of armed robbers; thugs, drunkards, prostitutes and all other social ills that give a bad name to the society, Nigerians are beginning to view government’s approach to the challenge as not yielding the targeted result.

The latest of such worry came from Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, who recently during a 2-day North-Central Zonal Meeting on Draft Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), held in Lokoja, called on stakeholders in the sector to find a lasting solution to the problem.

While lamenting that out of the 17 states in the country with the highest number of out-of-school children, 14 of the states are in the north, Jones said if the rate of out-of-school children can be curtailed, it would help check the insecurity that is currently bedevilling parts of the country, and would to a large extend signal goodbye to insecurity threats across the country.

Though he said it in a different way, venue and time, in the real sense of it, Mr Commissioner may not have said something new or different from what Nigerians have been worried about all these years.

To prove how successive administrations in the country have done very little in arresting the situation, a particular report in 2013, described as mind-numbing the awareness that about 10.5 million Nigerian children of school age are not enrolled in schools. Out of this number, the report explained that about 9 million are children of beggars, fishermen and other less privileged people in the society.

Again, in 2018, a UNICEF survey showed that the population of out-of-school children in Nigeria had risen from 10.5 million to 13.2 million, the highest in the world.

The UNICEF survey says something else; there is still a huge number of those who are in school but are learning nothing, noting that schooling does not always lead to learning. In Nigeria, there are more non-learners in school than out of school, it concluded.

Indeed, going by the facts below, UNICEF in my views may not be wrong in its postulation.

With the nation’s current population of over 195.9 million, 45 per cent of which are below 15 years, there is a huge demand for learning opportunities translating into increased enrolment. This has created challenges in ensuring quality education since resources are spread more thinly, resulting in more than 100 pupils for one teacher as against the UNESCO benchmark of 35 students per teacher and culminating in students learning under trees for lack of classrooms.

Basically, there exist in my opinion about three major troubling realities that characterize the situation as a crisis.

First is the awareness that Nigeria is not in short supply of policy measures and laws to ensure that no child is left behind in education. Yet, the number keeps swelling each year.

As argued elsewhere, there is free and compulsory primary and junior secondary education to cater for children aged five to 14 years.

To explain this point, the Universal Basic Education Act 2004 is the legal framework that provides for compulsory, free and universal basic education of all children of primary and junior secondary school age in the country. There is also the Child Rights Act, which reinforces this as a basic human right by prescribing schooling up to junior secondary school.

UBEC intervention funds, as we know, are focused on collaboration with other state actors towards improving access to basic education and reducing Nigeria’s out-of-school children.

The budgetary allocation for education for example in 2020 is N671.07 billion constituting 6.7 per cent. Of the N671.07 billion allocated to the Federal Ministry of Education, the sum includes the statutory transfer allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which is N111.79 billion. Yet, most of the states cannot draw from this fund as a result of their (states) inability to provide the counterpart funding.

So what benefits is the fund?

It was such encumbrance I presume that recently prompted the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to call on the federal government to remove counterpart funding as part of basic requirements for states to access the federal government funding of UBEC.

The second factor fuelling the out-of-school challenge in Nigeria stems from the awareness that despite the universal declaration of education as a fundamental human right for everyone and this right was further detailed in the convention against discrimination in education, Nigerian governments, particularly the northern governors, failed to turn more of their energies in, or focus their creativity on the useful things that will translate to the empowerment of the people.

They made policies that view education as very narrow and restricted.

Presently, what the region and Nigeria by extension need is a restless determination to make the idle of governance a reality.

At this critical point of our nationhood, the northern governors must do this work-and in doing the work, stimulate their people particularly the youths to learn and acquire higher levels of skills and techniques for economic independence.

There are certain technical steps that must be taken.

First, it is time to recognize that any region desirous of securing the future of its people must invest in education. This is more urgent in the north where it is agreed that historical underdevelopment in Western education is responsible, more than the diversity in religious loyalties, for the social imbalance between the region and the south.

Similarly, the hour has come for the governors from the region to adopt and support the 2030 sustainable agenda- a United Nation initiative and successor programme to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- with a collection of 17 global goals formulated among other aims to promote and cater for people, peace, planet, and poverty.

And has at its centre; partnership and collaboration, ecosystem thinking, co-creation and alignment of various intervention efforts by the public and private sectors and civil society.

The reason for this assertion is barefaced.

A few years ago, it was reported that Mathew Hassan Kukah- a well-informed, self-contained and quietly influential Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto had during a four-day workshop tagged Interfaith Dialogue and Engagement for Christians and Muslims in Minna, Niger State that the Kukah Centre (TKC), promised to introduce skill acquisition centres in the northern part of the country where about 10 million Almajiri children will acquire vocations of their choice.

For sure, with the slow economic but high population growth in Nigeria particularly in the north, such a programme would have been an effective tool for fighting unemployment and consolidating economic growth. But for yet to be identified reason(s), no governor from the north bought into that opening provided or encouraged their youth to access such opportunity.

Regardless of what others may say, it is in the interest of the government to educate its people on different skills that create jobs for the youths as a formidable way of curbing crime and reducing threatening insecurity in the country.

It should be done not merely for political consideration but from the views of national development and sustenance of our democracy and the best place to start from should be a deliberate effort to drastically reduce the number of our school children.

When this is achieved, it will in turn bring about sustained peace; result in improved hygiene and medical care, greater educational opportunities. State governments are hereby enjoined by this piece to embark on aggressive education of their people, ensuring its compulsion to a certain level.

To catalyse this process, a shift in action is important as ‘we cannot solve our socio-economic challenges with the same thinking we used when we created it.

The governors need to bring a change in the leadership paradigm by switching over to a leadership style that is capable of making successful decisions built on a higher quality of information.

Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374.

Education

Mine Bitcoin and Dogecoin for Free With DL Mining! UK Compliance Platform Officially Opened

Published

1 day ago

04/12/2025

Dipo Olowookere

Traditional cryptocurrency mining often requires huge capital investment, complex equipment configuration, and high electricity costs. However, DL Mining is subverting this industry, providing users with simple, low-cost BTC and DOGE cloud mining services. As a legal platform certified by the British authority, DL Mining makes mining no longer limited by expensive hardware and technical barriers, and truly enables everyone to participate. With top-level security protection, minimalist operation experience, and stable daily income guarantee, DL Mining has become one of the most promising cloud mining platforms in the encryption field.

Functions of DL Mining
DL Mining is committed to creating a safe, efficient and profitable mining experience for all users. The core advantages of the platform include:

✅ Top security protection

Using McAfee® and Cloudflare® dual encryption technology to fully protect user data and asset security

✅ Completely transparent and zero fees

No management fees are charged, no hidden costs are required, and 100% of the income belongs to the user

✅ Stable mining guarantee

The server runs 100% stably, and cooperates with a 24/7 professional customer service team to ensure continuous profitability

✅ Flexible mining in multiple currencies

Supports 6+ mainstream cryptocurrencies such as USDT,USDC,BTC, LTC, DOGE, XRPand free investment portfolio selection

✅ Newcomer exclusive benefits

Sign up and get a $15 investment package, enjoy $0.6 free income every day, and start mining at 0 cost

DL Mining

How to start cloud mining for free with DL Mining？
DL Mining provides an easy-to-use cloud mining getting started guide. Users can start mining in three simple steps:

Step 1: Register an account get $15 bones

The creation process is very smooth and only requires an email address. After registration, users can immediately access DL Mining’s mining dashboard to monitor their earnings in real time.

Step 2: Select a cloud mining service provider.

DL Mining offers a $15 free mining plan to simplify the mining process without expensive mining hardware. This free plan allows users to earn $0.6 in passive income per day for free without taking any financial risk.

Step 3: Choose a mining contract

DL Mining offers a variety of contract options to meet the needs of different investment levels. Each contract guarantees a fixed return and predictable daily returns, ensuring a transparent and profitable mining experience.

LTC [basic contract]: investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8

LTC [basic contract]: investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $8, expiration income: $500 + $37

BTC [classic contract]: investment amount: $1,000, contract period: 10 days, daily income of $16, expiration income: $1,000 + $160

BTC [classic contract]: investment amount: $3,000, contract period: 16 days, daily income of $51, expiration income: $3,000 + $816

BTC[Advanced contract]: investment amount: $10,000,contract period: 35 days, daily income of $215, expiration income: $10,000 + $7525

BTC[Super contract]: investment amount: $50,000,contract period: 45 days, daily income of $1250, expiration income: $52,000 + $67080

Why DL Mining stands out in the field of cloud mining

Easy to get started

DL Mining is designed for both new and experienced miners. The user-friendly interface ensures that even people who know nothing about cryptocurrency mining can seamlessly participate and earn rewards.

Profitability and flexibility:

Unlike traditional mining models that require long-term commitments and large investments, DL Mining offers flexible contract terms and guaranteed returns. Users can withdraw earnings daily, reinvest for higher returns, or exit at any time.

Worry-free experience

DL Mining handles all technical issues of mining, including equipment maintenance and energy costs. This allows users to focus on maximizing earnings without worrying about the complexity of operations.

DL Mining leads the new wave of cloud mining: a new choice for compliant, efficient and sustainable crypto income

The rise of the cloud mining platform DL Mining is completely changing the way people participate in cryptocurrency mining, and its innovative model may become a key force in promoting industry change:

Four core driving forces of industry change

Authoritative compliance guarantee

As an official British certification platform, DL Mining has established industry trust with perfect regulatory compliance, effectively solving the most concerned security and reliability issues in the field of cloud mining.

Green mining practice

With efficient and energy-saving cloud solutions, DL Mining significantly reduces the carbon footprint of traditional mining and provides a sustainable way of participation for environmentally conscious investors.

Broad market prospects

With the surge in demand for passive income, retail and institutional investors have flocked to the field of crypto mining, indicating that innovative platforms such as DL Mining will usher in explosive growth.

Disruptive cost advantage

Compared with traditional mining that requires the purchase of ASIC mining machines and high electricity bills, DL Mining has redefined industry standards with a nearly zero-threshold participation method and a stable income structure.

Future Outlook

DL Mining is driving the entire industry towards a more convenient, safer and more profitable direction through its innovative cloud mining model. The zero-cost entry, stable daily income and extremely simplified user experience provided by the platform make it an ideal choice for BTC and DOGE mining enthusiasts.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to expand, DL Mining is expected to grow into a leading platform in the cloud mining field, providing investors with a high-quality alternative to traditional mining. Whether you are a novice who is new to crypto mining or a veteran player pursuing stable returns, DL Mining deserves your attention.

Explore new opportunities in cloud mining now

Download APP or Official website: dlmining.net

Education

Prodigy Finance Unveils NovaGrad AI-enabled Planning Tool for Students

Published

3 days ago

02/12/2025

Aduragbemi Omiyale

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform giving LATAM and African students a clearer path to global universities known as NovaGrad has been launched by Prodigy Finance.

This tool allows users to plan their study-abroad journeys with confidence. The goal is to give every ambitious student the clarity, guidance, and confidence they need regardless of their background.

Many students still face steep tuition fees, shifting visa rules, complex admissions processes and limited access to reliable information.

The initiative has been created to make those first steps clearer and easier to manage. As interest grows across LATAM and Africa, universities have also stepped into the mission, recognising that students who arrive prepared are far more likely to succeed.

The platform is an AI-enabled planning tool that supports students throughout their study-abroad journey. It helps them explore courses, compare universities, understand their financial options and prepare strong, clear applications.

Students can research programmes across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and many other countries, understand what each university expects and organise their plans in one place.

With visa policies evolving globally, students can also turn to the platform to make sense of timelines, documentation and opportunities in newer destinations.

The tool supports students as they prepare to apply for university and their student visa. The platform helps them understand each step of the process and gives them the confidence to submit a strong, well-planned application.

“2025 has been one of our strongest years yet. We launched several scholarship programmes globally, and the interest from students across Africa and LATAM was remarkable.

“Even though each cycle can only support a small number of winners, our recent Prodigy Finance Awards granted close to $40,000 to eight international students, including learners from Africa and Mexico. It became clear that we needed a broader solution for this region,” the Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, Ms Sonal Kapoor, said.

”After nearly a year of work, we have launched a platform where students can explore multiple scholarship options, receive guidance on choosing universities and prepare their statements of purpose with confidence. That is why we built this service.

“It gives learners clarity about their choices and helps them plan their journey with purpose. This isn’t the kind of AI that replaces talent, it’s the kind that helps students unlock it,” she added.

Also commenting, the Head of Acquisition Strategy at Prodigy Finance and spokesperson for NovaGrad, Ms Mariana Alcocer, said, “I grew up in Colombia, and I know what it feels like to want something bigger than the place you grew up in.

“Many students across LATAM and Africa carry that same determination. They are ambitious and ready to work hard, yet the path in front of them isn’t always clear. The platform gives students the kind of guidance I wish I had in the past, a place where your options make sense and you don’t feel lost or alone.”

“Students aren’t looking for shortcuts. They want clarity. They want to know which universities align with their goals and how to present a strong application.

“The service brings all of that into one space. When students have the right tools, they move from doubt to confidence. That shift is exactly what the platform is built for,” she noted.

Prodigy Finance, a popular brand known for funding international students, has helped more than 45,000 masters students from 150 countries and has disbursed over $2.3 billion in funding.

Education

Human Rights Watch Urges FG to Protect Schools from Attacks

Published

1 week ago

25/11/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Nigerian government to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks.

In a statement on Tuesday, the rights body said, “The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release the students and teachers they are holding captive.”

On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

“These mass school kidnappings once again lay bare the deliberate targeting of students, teachers, and schools in Nigeria’s deteriorating security environment,” said Ms Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The deepening crisis underscores the government’s failure to protect vulnerable communities.”

Human Rights Watch said it spoke with parents of two of the girls abducted in Kebbi state. Mrs Isa Nazifi, whose 13-year-old daughter Khadija Nazifi, a junior secondary school student, was among those abducted.

“I immediately took a motorbike and rushed to the school, where I found my second daughter, also a student at the school. She told me Khadija had been taken. We are extremely worried. My wife is in tears. I will stay here at the school until my daughter returns. If I go home without her, what will I tell my family?”

Also, Mr Sani Zimri, whose daughter, Salima Sani Zimri, is a senior secondary school student who was also abducted, said he had heard rumors from other parents of a possible attack by bandits the week before the incident.

“We developed confidence after seeing military operatives surveilling the area, only to realize that there were no security operatives on the premises for the entire three hours that the incident occurred,” he was quoted in a statement by HRW.

The rights group also noted that the development was not new and dates back as far as 2014 and has been occuring with successive governments.

Human Rights Watch said Nigerian authorities have failed to apply lessons from previous attacks to create early warning systems and other measures that could prevent these atrocities.

In response to the recent kidnappings, the government has promised to rescue the kidnapped students and hold those responsible accountable. President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to act swiftly to bring the girls back while also urging local communities to share intelligence.

The authorities have also shut down 47 federal secondary schools known as Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger have also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.

The rights group lamented that while these measures are aimed at protecting students, they have disrupted learning for thousands of children, denying them access to education and the social and psychological support schools provide.

“Without concrete measures to provide alternative learning opportunities to ensure continuity in their education, the students are at risk of falling behind academically and facing long term setbacks in their development,” the statement added.

It explains that since Nigeria is a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, the government should move with urgency to advance a proposal to introduce legislation to implement the Safe Schools Declaration.

“Children in Nigeria have the right to go to school without fearing for their lives,” Ms Ewang said. “Nigerian authorities should prioritize the safe release of the kidnapped children and their teachers and bring those responsible for their abduction to justice.”