The Federal Government has confirmed that 14 students out of those abducted with their teachers from the Federal Government College Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, are yet to be released by their abductors.
Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, gave the confirmation, on Thursday, while presenting his keynote address at the National campaign on out of school children in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State,
He noted that bringing every child on board the ship of education is a National priority which every stakeholder must take seriously, as he expressed pain over the remaining 14 students who were abducted at the Federal Government College Birni Yauri sometime last year, calling on all hands to remain on deck for the release of the remaining children.
He said the Federal Government was determined to free all the children being held in captivity by terrorists, a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mr Ben Bem Goong said.
Recall that gunmen had abducted over 100 students and eight teachers from the College on Thursday, June 17, 2021.
However, security operatives succeeded in rescuing some of the students days after they were abducted, while others escaped from the gunmen in the process of taking them away, while the bandits had on October 21, 2021, released 30 of the students.
Nwajiuba said: “My heart and soul are with all Nigerian Children who are still in captivity. I stand with the parents in the circumstance. The goverment will continue to do all it can to free our children who are being held for what they know nothing about.”
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He said, no nation could make meaningful progress with a high number of its youths as illiterates.
According to the Minister, the high number of out-of-school children was inimical to the growth and development of any Nation.
Nwajiuba maintained that the Federal Ministry of education is determined to ensure that all children of school age who are out of school are returned and retained to complete their Basic and secondary education and possibly transit to tertiary institutions.
The Minister called for synergy amongst stakeholders especially communities where these children exist to ensure that they are given the necessary support to achieve education, adding that this is the only way we can achieve a better, reliable, developed and peaceful society.
Hon Nwajiuba appealed to good spirited individuals and groups to take responsibility for the education of these children, especially for the orphaned who have no one to carter for their educational needs.
The Minister also called on State governments to upscale their efforts in supporting the Federal Government in the task of educating these children, adding that education is a collective responsibility.
An educated populace, the Minister said, is a critical recipe for development and peace in any society.
In his address at the occasion, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government said, the state fully committed to eradicating the out-of-school Children phenomenal.
The Governor said Kebbi state has approximately 900,000 out-of-school children. From the inception of this administration, the governor said he has committed over N15.5 billion towards the construction of 552 classroom blocks, boreholes, toilets and furniture for the course of out-of-school children in the state.
Through series of interventions, the gov said Kebbi State has put in place a number of strategies, including sensitization and massive enrollment drive as well as the provision of necessary and adequate infrastructure.
He further revealed that 42 nomadic schools have been constructed to provide access to quality education for the children of Nomards and migrant fishermen.
Similarly, the Governor said 167 basic literacy centres have been established for the purpose of integrating Almajiris into formal education. In addition, His Excellency said, 167 basic literacy centres have been established for Adult and Non Formal education across the 21 local governments.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Akpama Simon Ibor, indicated that Kebbi State is determined to bring back to school, over 500,000 out of school children within the next two years, adding that over 9000 facilitators are being engaged to handle the program.
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14 abducted students of FGC Birnin Yauri yet to be released ― FG
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14 abducted students of FGC Birnin Yauri yet to be released ― FG