Foundation links insecurity to illiteracy rate in Nigeria

A UK-based NGO, set up to address the menace of out-of-school children in Nigeria, IA-Foundation, has explained that there is a correlation between illiteracy and insecurity.

The founder of the foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, who is a chartered accountant, stated this at an event held Sunday while partnering with the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Micheal Situ to raise awareness and funds to help pick up vulnerable children off the streets in Nigeria.

She lamented that lack of attention to out-of-school children menace ages ago contributes to the country’s insecurity, adding that those children have grown up without skills and can only resort to crime to survive. 

Meanwhile, Adeagbo confirmed that the Foundation is willing to work with the government and, especially the Northern governors forum to fund a lasting solution to this menace. 

She encouraged the government to empower the newly established parastatal for out-of-school children and Almajiri to act as Police and enforcers to reduce out of school children in Nigeria. 

Ibironke confirmed that the foundation is planning for a bigger fundraiser in Lagos at the Civic Center, in Victoria Island, Lagos on 2nd of March 2024 to raise funds to put the children back in school. 

Speaking also, the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Ambassador Cyprian Heen, stressed the importance of education and that the government cannot do it all. 

“So we should all socially invest in getting these children off the street. 

“So that they can be economically active in future and pay taxes, which is good for the economic development in Nigeria.” Cyprian said.

He confirmed the commission’s support for the IA-Foundation’s wonderful initiative.

In his remarks, the host of the event, Councillor Situ said education is the only thing that can enable people to discover their potential and therefore achieve in life. 

The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Jide Olagundoye, also confirmed that the foundation is so resolute in bringing down the number of out of school children in Nigeria, because it is unacceptable and a ticking time bomb and it will exacerbate the security challenges in future.