Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised alarm over the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to national security.
He expressed concerns that these children, numbering over 20 million, are being primed for recruitment by terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and other criminal groups in the future.
Obasanjo made these remarks on Sunday during the commissioning of several projects executed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
He emphasized the urgent need for human capacity development through education to prevent the looming danger.
Citing World Bank statistics, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria, with a population of approximately 230 million people, has more than 20 million children who should be in school but are currently out of the education system.
“For a population of about 230 million, that’s 10 per cent of our population that should be in school but are not.
“Governor, your royal highnesses, brothers and sisters, that is recruitment for future Boko Haram; nobody needs to tell us that,” the former president stated.
He further stressed that the lack of educational opportunities for these children leaves them vulnerable to exploitation by insurgent groups and bandits in the next decade if the issue is not urgently addressed.
“Apart from the fact that 10 per cent of our population are not being equipped to develop their innate ability and capacity to serve themselves, their family, and their community, we are also preparing them to be recruited in 10 to 15 years’ time for whatever form of Boko Haram or banditry exists at that time,” Obasanjo warned.
His comments underscore the growing concerns over Nigeria’s education crisis, which continues to deprive millions of children of formal education, further exacerbating poverty and insecurity in the country.
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