President Bola Tinubu has sounded a cautionary note, warning that failure to address the educational needs of underprivileged children could lead to widespread social instability that may affect the wealthy.
Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at a youth development roundtable in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the pressing need to tackle Northern Nigeria’s educational challenges.
“We can afford private schools for our children, but the poor children we neglect today will chase us out of this land tomorrow,” Tinubu remarked.
The event, hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation under the theme ‘Empowering the Next Generation: Strategies for Sustainable Youth Development in Northern Nigeria’, gathered stakeholders to address the region’s pressing developmental issues.
Tinubu highlighted the interconnectedness of Nigeria’s regions, stating, “Whatever disrupts the growth of one region sets back the entire nation.” He stressed that robust solutions, including prioritizing initiatives like the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Commission, are critical to ensuring quality education for all children.
“For the dividends of democracy to be felt nationwide, we must empower local governments to improve primary education funding and make them pipelines of governance,” Tinubu added, noting the importance of holding leaders accountable to provide opportunities for every child.
He also encouraged the youth of Northern Nigeria to embrace values of tolerance, diligence, and faith, while urging leaders to harness the potential of the youth to drive national and continental progress.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for increased funding for education and emphasized the role of traditional leaders in addressing educational challenges. “We must build schools, hire qualified teachers, and engage with communities to bring lasting solutions,” he said.
The Sultan commended the establishment of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Commission, calling it a critical step in addressing youth restiveness and educational neglect.
Muazu Babangida, Chairman of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation’s Board of Trustees, highlighted the foundation’s achievements over the past 15 years in promoting education and social progress in Northern Nigeria. He urged the government to implement recommendations from the roundtable for sustainable development.
The gathering, which included serving and former governors, youth leaders, and other key stakeholders, aimed to forge actionable strategies to improve the region’s education and youth development outcomes.
