Lagos govt restates commitment to tackling out-of-school children menace

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children, emphasising that education must remain the cornerstone of human development and national progress.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, made this statement at the 27th Quarterly Meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). The meeting, themed “Bridging the Gap between Planning and Performance towards Achieving Quality Basic Education,” was held at Watercress Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Expressing concern over the estimated 20 million out-of-school children nationwide, which he described as unacceptable, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged education stakeholders to devise sustainable strategies to bring more children into classrooms.

He underscored that basic education forms the foundation of all achievements, insisting that preventing children from attending school must be considered illegal. He added that society must demonstrate to youths that education is not a crime.

“Basic education is the foundation of whatever anybody would achieve. Not bringing kids to school must be illegal. We must prove to our youths that education is not a crime,” he declared.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also reiterated his administration’s support for the Project Zero Initiative, a flagship programme aimed at drastically reducing the number of out-of-school children while ensuring access to free, equitable, and innovative learning for every child in Lagos. He emphasized that robust infrastructure remains essential to this mission.

He further highlighted his administration’s commitment to enhancing education by investing in teachers’ development and fostering environments that promote student success. He noted that Lagos had prioritized building world-class educational infrastructure, as demonstrated by the recent commissioning of ultra-modern classroom blocks, integrated vocational training facilities, and digital literacy initiatives under the THEMES Plus Agenda.

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“Here in Lagos, we have prioritised building world-class educational infrastructure, as evidenced by our recent commissioning of ultra-modern classroom blocks, integrated vocational training, and digital literacy initiatives under our THEMES Plus Agenda. We understand that advancing education means equipping teachers through professional development programs and fostering a learning environment where every child can thrive,” he said.

In her remarks, UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, aligned the Commission’s efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, commending Lagos for being a model in policy implementation, teacher welfare, and innovation through initiatives such as digital learning and the Smart School project.

Lagos SUBEB Chairman, Hon. Hakeem Shittu, praised the state government’s progress in school construction, rehabilitation, and prioritization of teachers’ welfare.

Also speaking, the Dean of SUBEB Chairmen and Kwara SUBEB Chairman, Prof. Sheu Adaramaja, described the meeting theme as apt, emphasizing the need for strong monitoring mechanisms and stakeholder engagement.

The meeting brought together SUBEB chairmen from all 36 states and the FCT to share achievements, discuss challenges, and strategize on strengthening the Universal Basic Education programme.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE