President Bola Tinubu has emphasized the critical need to address educational disparities in Nigeria, particularly for underprivileged children. He warned that neglecting the education of children from poorer backgrounds could lead to social upheaval. Speaking at a roundtable focused on youth development in Northern Nigeria, Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, highlighted that the country’s elites can afford private education, but failing to uplift the poor through education could have serious consequences.
The event, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation under the theme Empowering the Next Generation: Strategies for Sustainable Youth Development in Northern Nigeria, underscored the necessity of tackling the region’s educational challenges. Tinubu stressed that addressing the issues in Northern Nigeria would benefit the entire nation.
He pointed to the establishment of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Commission as part of the government’s initiatives to ensure every child has access to quality education. Tinubu also advocated for local government autonomy, which he believes is essential for improving primary education funding and effective governance.
Urging citizens to hold leaders accountable, Tinubu called for a collective effort to create educational opportunities for all children. He also encouraged the Northern youth to adopt values of tolerance and hard work, inspired by the legacy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, to drive Nigeria and Africa toward a more prosperous future.
News Editor