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Out-of-School Children Crisis: Nigeria’s Future is bleaking-Group

Published

2 years ago

September 10, 2024

Federal and state governments have been tasked to urgently address Nigeria’s worrisome spike in out-of-school children crises to save the country’s future.

Experts and citizens made the call during an anti-corruption radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, in Abuja.

This is coming on the heels of two recent investigative reports published by Premium Times exposing how poverty, shambolic education system, dilapidated infrastructure, tortuous teaching, and learning environment continue to worsen the out-of-school children scourge in Niger and Nasarawa states.

Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with only 63% of primary school children regularly attending schools, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking during the radio program, Chief Executive Officer of Gender Consult Joyce Ahmadu called on President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors to take prompt steps in tackling the rising numbers of out-of-school children, admonishing that high priority must be placed on improving basic education.

Ahmadu warned that Nigeria’s future will be bleak if leaders fail to nip the out-of-school children problem in the bud without delay, as primary and secondary school education is the bedrock of every nation’s development”.

She knocked on state governments that have failed to provide matching grants for implementing Universal Basic Education, UBE in their states. Adding that the action ensures the future of the Nigerian child remains in jeopardy, with girls mainly affected.

She noted that corruption is a major issue that must be dealt with if education budgetary allocations at federal and state levels are to be properly put to good use.

Similarly, a board member of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Abdullahi Sale, called out state governments for their inability to prioritize the education of citizens as insecurity, infrastructure, and teachers’ remuneration are still not on the front burner.

Sale, while stressing that Nigeria needs humongous investment in education to catch up with the rest of the world, also lamented the failure of some state governments to access UBE funds as of July 2024. He, however, raised fear that more states will not access the education funds after the federal government increased the matching grant to N3.5 billion.

On her part, data journalist and researcher Kafilat Taiwo urged federal and state governments to collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in addressing the myriad of problems bedeviling primary and secondary education, especially in rural areas.

Taiwo, buttressing the findings of the investigation, stated that “poverty, insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure, poor welfare, and others are some of the issues booming the rate of out-of-school children in Niger state and added that the federal government’s discontinuation of the school feeding program has also caused a sharp drop in the number of children that attend school in rural communities.

NMCO DG, Bags CIML Best Civil Servant Leadership Award

Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, CIML, Commonwealth Kentucky, USA has bestowed its Best Public Servant Leader Award of Excellence in Nigeria on the Director General, DG, of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, NMCO, Engr Obadiah Simon Nkom.

The award presentation took place at a Management and Leadership program organized by the institute, according to a statement signed by the head, of Press and Public Relations, NMCO, Sade Fatoke.

Engr Nkom was also inducted as a Fellow and Member, of the Board of Regents at the event with the theme: ‘Leadership, Strategic Management, and Policy Solutions: Advancing Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria’ held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja on August 29, 2024, the statement added.

According to the Institute, the Director General is valued for his various reforms in the Mining Cadastre Office, particularly the automation of the Cadastre system to online and real-time Mineral Title Administration and Management in line with best practice.

This, it added, has cascaded to a robust mining sector, impacting positively the economy of the country.

The Institute further noted that Engr Nkom’s passion for human development, youth empowerment, and skill acquisition made him stand out for the leadership award.

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

10 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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