The Child Protection Network and the Treasured Points of Light Foundation (TPLF) have called on the government at all levels to redouble their efforts at tackling the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The groups advocated sustainable funding for the educational sector in order to get the over 20 million children back to school.
The Ogun State coordinator of one of the groups, Adedamola Lapite disclosed this to newsmen during an outreach programme organised in collaboration with the Treasured Points of Light Foundation for 350 children in a slum in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The outreach was part of activities to mark the 2024 International Children’s Day.
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He said numerous potentials were locked up in many of the affected children, which could benefit the country if properly nurtured through education.
Lapite identified abuse, violence and poverty as some of the challenges confronting Nigerian children.
“All we are thinking about is making the children better, so as not to be useless to themselves and the society. We saw it as an opportunity to celebrate with them at the slum, look at talents they have and help them develop it so as to encourage them to get better,” Lapite said.
Also, the team leader for Treasured Points of Light Foundation, Damilola Onebamhoin, said rise in inflation led many children to do menial jobs and resulted in the increasing number of out-of-school children.
She further stressed that if the children got the best of care despite being from the slum, their future would be secured with the right policies.
She said, “The government should empower the parents of these children by working on the economy so that they would be financially capable to send their children to school.”
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