Kehinde Fajobi
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s educational challenges, particularly the country’s large out-of-school population.
Speaking during a dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des Élysée in France, Tinubu pledged to prioritise innovative initiatives aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
“We will encourage skills development to bridge the gap for those who are older and have been out of school for a while,” Tinubu said.
He acknowledged that insecurity in certain regions has hindered school attendance but noted, “We are gradually re-populating classrooms, and we need skills development to bridge the gaps.”
Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emphasised that the future of Nigeria’s development depends on educating its youth.
“No child should go to bed hungry in the 21st century,” he added, highlighting his administration’s focus on food security and education.
The President also discussed progress in improving national security, stating that Nigeria is implementing “kinetic” strategies to foster peace.
He expressed optimism for greater stability in the country, citing improved agricultural yields this year as an indicator of returning stability.
In response, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged Nigeria’s potential for growth and stressed the importance of investing in education.
Reflecting on his own experiences in Nigeria, Macron recalled his internship at the French Embassy, which took him to Lagos and Kano states.
He pledged to further strengthen France-Nigeria relations.
Nigeria currently has an estimated 18.3 million children out of school, making it one of the countries with the highest out-of-school populations globally.
The crisis is especially severe in northern states like Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe, where over 60% of children are not enrolled in school due to factors such as insecurity, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure.