Preventing Our Children From A Perilous Future

 By Ayo Baje

“Let us work together to create a future where every child can learn, grow and thrive. Education is a right not a privilege. Let us make it a reality for all”

– Hon. Obidike Chukwuebuka (APC Chieftain). 

The celebration of the 2024 World Children’s Day has come and gone but the scandalous statistics of the abysmal quality of the life of the average Nigerian youth stare us all in the face. Lest we deceive ourselves, there is cause for serious concern, with regards to the educational, healthcare and socio-economic status of our children, that we, as adults would be leaving for them. 

For instance, according to the Chief of Field Office of UNICEF in Bauchi State, Dr. Tushar Rane, Nigeria currently holds the ignoble record of being home to the largest number of out of school children. It is so alarming that 63% of primary school children regularly attend school. In fact, the number of school-aged children out-of-school has escalated from 10.5 million as at Year 2020 to an alarming figure of 20 million in October, 2022. That is according to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO). But that is not all there is to the low level of commitment to education of our younger generation.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s persisting learning poverty is so worrisome that about 70 % of the 10-year olds cannot understand simple sentence in the English language, or perform basic numeracy tasks! Yet, there is more to stir the conscience of patriotic Nigerians. 

Considering the parlous performance of the successive political leaders in the critical health sector, as at February 2024, some 35 million under-5 Nigerian children were considered as voiceless victims of malnutrition; unable to access different types of food items that are nutritious, safe and adequate to guarantee their wellbeing. That frightening figure is credited to dataphyte.com. 

Similarly, 12 million of them suffer from stunted growth, even as 3 million agonize over wasting, which is the excessive and rapid weight loss. The average reduction in this excruciating health challenge is a meagre 1.4 % in a year. Also, 23.5% of our children are said be anaemic. And UNICEF has gone further to reveal that 6,800 children in the embattled North- East geo-political axis have been serially abused over the decades. This is unacceptable in a country considered as an “African Giant”.

But the datas available on those young Nigerians who might be healthy but are barely living from hand -to-mouth due to unemployment are simply heart-rending. 

 Going by the data made public by Spectator Index, FIJ NG, 53% of Nigerian youth between the ages of 15 and 24 fall under the bracket of unemployment, as at April 2023. Mind you, that is the second worst in the whole wide world, with South Africa ranked the worst at 61%.  While Greece scored 23%, Japan’s figure remained as low as 5.2% on youth unemployment. That should serve as a worthy inspiration for a country such as Nigeria. So, how do we change the narrative, to ensure a brighter future for Nigerian youth? 

Going forward, we have to learn from the past experiences, policies and programs of some concerned and committed individuals, communities and countries. It would be recalled that a patriot, and an Efik-born Nigerian by the name of Professor Eyo Ita ( of blessed memory) returned from the United States to the country in 1933 to form the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934. That was after the educationist had acquired two masters degrees and a doctorate degree in the field of philosophy.

The matching mandate of the NYM was predicated on the palm philosophy with the five fingers of Health, Education, Beauty, Knowledge, Patriotism and Religion. Soon after coming into being it saw to the training of the junior cadre of doctors, engineers and teachers in the country. In fact, it became so impactful that in March of 1934 it influenced the formation of the Lagos Youth Movement that was launched and piloted by the likes of Dr. J. C. Vaughan as the president, with members such as Ernest Ikoli, Samuel Akinsanya and H.O. Davies. Its influence was one of the factors that lured Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe from Ghana and before you know it, the NYM became a nationwide movement. That underscores the power of a brilliant idea that was acted upon as a team work. 

The questions that the persisting, poor quality of education and healthcare delivery bring to the table include the level of priority our past and present leaders offer the all-important sector of educational development. If Chief Obafemi Awolowo could adhere strictly to the 26% UNESCO-recommended allocation of the budget of the then Western Region to education why has it become so difficult for other state governors and presidents to do same, over the decades? Is it rocket science? Not at all. 

On the interventions by governments, it is on record that in January 2021 the then President Muhammad Buhari inaugurated an 18-man Presidential Steering Committee on Alternate School Program (ASP)  to address the challenge of the high figure of out of school children. It was headed by the Minister of Education under his administration, Adamu Adamu. Also included was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq. But did the ASP achieve its primary objectives? The answer is patently obvious to discerning minds. 

As being canvassed by Chukwuebuka, a holistic approach is required to drive the vision of a fruitful future for our largely neglected, ignorant and impoverished youth. Much as it is commendable that a  state governor such as Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has increased the budgetary allocation for education to 18 % and taken 12,000 out of school children back to the halls of knowledge acquisition, the government cannot do it all alone. 

 Good as it is, that both Governors Babagana Zulum of Bornu state and Dr. Alex Otti of Abia state are providing solid infrastructure for education delivery, all hands must be on deck. Parents should inculcate high moral values in their children. Also, religious, traditional institutions and non-governmental organizations must rise up with collaborative efforts to stem the raging tides of mass youth illiteracy. Doing so will certainly reduce the attendant disasters of drug abuse, insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery. 

And of course, the government should fulfill the mandate of Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution ( as amended) by ensuring sustainable security and providing for the citizens’ welfare. Doing so will guarantee a brighter future for our children.

*Baje is a commentator on public issues