From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
A group, known as Beta Nigeria has said that one in five of the world’s out-of-school children is a Nigerian. and less than eight per cent of government spending goes to education.
In his presentation, yesterday during the group’s campaign in Abuja, the Federal Lead, Beta Nigeria Campaign, Abdulsalam Badamasi, stated that the figure puts Nigeria in the bottom eight countries worldwide.
He also said that three in four ten years old can’t read a simple sentence or solve a basic mathematics.
“How can Nigeria grow and prosper when investment in our future is so bleak?” he asked
According to him, the Nigerian youthful population is full of potential but the crisis in education system makes millions of them to face a bleak future because of lack of education.
“When all Nigerian children are going to school, staying in school and learning more, we will build a more resilient, more secure, more prosperous country. This can only be achieved through more and better investment that educates and empowers future generations to become more productive citizens. It’s the responsibility of all of us—–politicians, education providers, parents and everyone who works in partnership with them” he said.
Mostly affected, he noted, are people with disabilities. So, Beta Nigeria campaign seeks to re-integrate this group of children back to the society through good and quality education.
To achieve this, the teachers, parents and politicians are should be involved.
“We’ll work with politicians, education officials and providers, parents and communities, and our partners in civil society and the media.
“We’ll bring together multiple voices and co-ordinate our calls to action, expanding the framing of education reform and increasing our collective impact.
We’ll catalyse, shape, and amplify success stories, and rally demand for change, through developing a shared understanding of the problem and coordinating our calls to action.
“We’ll have the benefit of long term funding that allows us to operate for a number of years, maintaining the steady drumbeat of engagement with those who can deliver change, and continuing to hold them to account” he said. ENDS