The Dean faculty of education , Federal University Lokoja Professor Rafiu Ademola Olatoye has revealed that the 2024 statistic shown that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children worldwide.
Olatoye a professor of measurements and evaluation disclosed this Wednesday while delivering the 29th inaugural lecture series of the Federal University Lokoja, titled “Lamentation and Consolation in the Adventure of an Educational Evaluator”
held at the College of Health Science , Adankolo campus of the University.
While giving the breakdown of the statistic, Professor Olatoye , said the total out of school children as at late 2024 was 18.3 million, noting that primary age between six to twelve years (6-12) has 10.2 million just as secondary age between thirteen and seventeen has 8.1 million according to UNESCO record.
According to him , the figure has called for concern, stressing that the large Out Of School Children (OOSC) population hindered literacy, economic growth and progress on the United Nation SDG 4 that stands for quality education.
The Dean faculty of education who identified family roles, society influence, poverty, home background, lack of finance, religious belief , cultural ignorance among others as factors responsible for the high rate of OOSC in Nigeria, averred that there is an urgent need for the government and other relevant education stakeholders to tackle the problems of Almajis in Northern part of the country.
He also urged the government to address all the identified socio-economic factors affecting the integration of Almajiris into the formal education system, adding that such effort can be carried out through public enlightenment campaigns and provision of incentives.
Professor Olatoye said “Adequate incentive should be provided by the government if they want the Almajiris to go to formal schools.
“Government should help the Mallams to provide shelter and food for the Almajiris in order to eradicate begging activities of Almajiris in the society. Regular orientation should be given to Mallams on how to take care of the Almajiris in order to improve their well-being”
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi in his welcome address, stated that the inaugural lecture series offers the university a platform to showcase the intellectual accomplishments of it’s seasoned professors and to engage in critical discourse on issues of national and global relevance.
He added that the inaugural lecture is a celebration of scholarship, reflection, and contribution to knowledge and society.
“As I have often emphasized in my previous addresses, we, as an institution, remain firmly committed to upholding and advancing the culture of inaugural lectures. We shall not relent in our pursuit of academic excellence, and we are determined to set a standard worthy of emulation by other institutions.
“The title of the lecture “Lamentation and Consolation in the Adventure of an Educational Evaluator” evokes a journey, one that is filled with the emotional and intellectual realities of an evaluator navigating the complexities of Nigeria’s educational landscape.
“This duality of pain and purpose is at the heart of every committed scholar’s experience, especially in a nation where the value of education must constantly be defended, improved and re-imagined” the VC said.
