President Bola Tinubu on Thursday expressed alarm over the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, wrote in a statement.
“We must address this issue by establishing more schools, recruiting teachers and providing at least one meal a day to schoolchildren, aligning ourselves with the progressive ideology we intend to pursue,” Tinubu told members of the National Working Committee (NWC). of his party, Congress of all progressives (APC).
Nigeria has about 20 million school-age children out of school, UNESCO estimated last year, although the Nigerian government argued the real number may be lower. Only India has more out-of-school children than Nigeria, according to the UN agency.
The number of children out of school in Nigeria is worsened by insecurity that continues to plague many communities in northern Nigeria, displacing thousands of people from their homes and causing schools to close.
Tinubu’s proposed solution needs the support of state governments to work. Most public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are owned by state and local governments, which are also responsible for the staffing and operation of such schools.
Other topics discussed
In his meeting with APC leaders, President Tinubu also said democracy must be progressive and inclusive, with a primary focus on pragmatically addressing poverty through the provision of job opportunities for the youth and quality education for all children. Nigerians.
He told APC leaders who visited him in Lagos that he supports the establishment of the National Institute for Progressive Studies by the party.
The president noted that the institute is expected to carry out diligent research and educate all members of the party on the principles of democracy and good governance, while providing a distinctive identity to the party.
”Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it. I am committed to supporting a strong, ideologically determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education to our children.
“Collaboration with various branches of government is crucial, and I commend our party leaders for working hard to promote these essential ideals,” Ngelale quoted the president as saying.
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Read Mr Ngelale’s full statement below
PRESIDENT TINUBU: NIGERIA’S PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT MUST PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL NIGERIAN CHILDREN AND JOBS FOR YOUTH
President Bola Tinubu says democracy must be progressive and inclusive and primarily focus on pragmatically addressing poverty through the provision of job opportunities for the youth and quality education for all Nigerian children.
Receiving members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday in Lagos, President Tinubu expressed his support for the establishment of the National Institute for Progressive Studies by the party.
The President noted that the Institute is expected to carry out diligent research and educate all members of the party on the principles of democracy and good governance, while providing a distinctive identity to the party.
”Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it. I am committed to supporting a strong, ideologically determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education to our children.
“Collaboration with various branches of government is crucial and I commend our party leaders for working hard to promote these essential ideals,” the president said.
The president asked party leaders to target more youth and women in its digital membership validation and e-registration exercise scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
“I stand firmly at your side in advancing our party’s progressive ideological stance and we will pursue it vigorously,” he said.
President Tinubu thanked members of the party for the overwhelming show of support they gave him during the campaigns, election victory and the affirmation of his presidency by the Supreme Court.
”It has been a while since we had the opportunity to meet, especially since the Supreme Court ruling. “I was hoping for a meeting, but the demanding tasks in my office that we strive for have required greater focus, dedication and time,” the president said.
Expressing concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in the country, President Tinubu stated: “We must address this issue by creating more schools, recruiting teachers and providing at least one meal a day to school children, in line with the ideology progressive that we intend to pursue.”
The National President of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, informed the President that the NWC is putting plans in place to ensure the party’s success in the upcoming by-elections to the national and state legislative houses in February 2024.
“We assure His Excellency that under our leadership and with his consent, strategies have been put in place to gain the support of our people and secure all available seats for the electoral contest,” he said.
Ajuri Ngelale
Special advisor to the president
(Media and advertising)