Inauguration: Children prioritize education, security in agenda for Tinubu

As Nigeria commemorates Children’s Day, Daily Trust reports that children have outlined their expectations for the incoming government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, who will be inaugurated on May 29.

Access to free education and the security of school environments emerged as the top requests from the children, as reported by Telescope.ng.

Scholarships, provision of learning aids, and the recruitment of more teachers were also highlighted as priority areas by the children.

Additionally, they expressed their hope to avoid experiencing incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other related associations when they enrol in higher institutions.

This year’s Children’s Day celebration revolves around the theme “More Money for Primary Education.” President Muhammadu Buhari has proposed a budget allocation of N1.79 trillion to the education sector, which represents approximately 8.8% of the 2023 budget.

However, this amount still falls short of the percentage recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for educational expenditure.

While primary education is officially free and compulsory in Nigeria, Daily Trust highlights that at least 18 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are not enrolled in school.

Furthermore, UNICEF reported that since December 2020, over 1,436 school children have been abducted in Nigeria, predominantly in the North Central and North West regions. Tragically, 16 school children have lost their lives in various non-state armed attacks, and 17 teachers have been kidnapped from schools.

Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, condemned attacks on schools, emphasizing that they violate the rights of victims to education and are unacceptable.

He expressed concern that such incidents create an unsafe learning environment, discouraging parents from sending their children to school and instilling fear in learners.

Hawkins stressed that these attacks disproportionately affect girls, exacerbating the number of out-of-school children, of which 60% are girls. He called for concerted efforts to ensure that learning in Nigeria is safe for all children, particularly girls.

Since UNICEF’s statement, additional attacks have occurred in towns and villages, leading to the displacement of numerous children and their families. Regrettably, many children remain in captivity across different parts of the country.

The children’s priorities of education and security underscore the urgent need for concerted action to provide quality education and safeguard the well-being of Nigerian students.