Recent publication by an international body shows that Nigeria has one of the highest rate of out of school children population, and this number is concentrated in the North, I can say authoritatively in recent times mainly, North East, with Borno, Adamawa and Yobe leading the league. This is so because of the insurgency perpetrated by of Boko haram whoes main targets are schools, the children are not spared out of the activities of the dreaded sect. In more resent times although you would agree with me that the activities, of the also dreadful and notorious herdsmen who have been rated as one of the most deadly terrorist groups in the world, is taking the lead, although it’s impact on children is not directly felt, but the aftermath of their actions also displaces children and hence keeps them away from schools.
It is mostly adjudged that the Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDP’s) have schools, but in most camps this is far from reality as they most often than none, only have primarily schools in the camp. The danger of this is, the fact that most of this camps have been created since 2014/2015, meaning that most or some of the internally displaced children have been out of school for as long as four to five years(4/5 years).
As some camps don’t have secondary schools, and the reality on ground is that the children, for those who have interest in education, against all odds, would have to travel a journey that cost, three hundred naira on the average to access secondary schools, as the only AFFORDABLE government school are sometimes many kilometres away. Mind you these are supposed children, whoes parents and families are in the IDP’s camps, without any means of lively hood. How many children in such condition and situation can afford to go to school?.
Even the available primarily schools which are handled in most cases by the military instructors don’t have a complete school structure for a school, not just physical structure but even enough man power, and are mostly faced with the persisting problem of language barrier.
The questions this problem leaves many with is. Don’t these children have right to education as well?. What does the future holds for these children?.
My interaction with some of the children in an IDP’s camp in Adamawa shows the plight and neglect of these children. Why has the government forgotten about these children, why has the international community so forgotten them?. My interaction with some of the kids revealed their strong desires to be members of the society as some of the girls I spoke with wanted to be medical doctors and the boys hoping to me officers of the Nigerian Army. Can their dreams ever come to reality considering their current plight and difficulties faced in enrolling into secondary schools?.
The major responsibilities of the government is to protect lives and properties, these the government has failed and now the government has neglected the future of the next generation. If the statistics by a US department is anything to go by, that predicts that, by 2050 Nigeria would be the third most populous country in the face of this world. It is important to note that, if we continue this way we would have about 40% illiteracy rate, just when others are thinking of further advancing in technology, we would be struggling with the very basics.
If the government do not curb this growing trend, we would have more problems to face in the future, as the methods and systems used presently is not sustainable. No doubt relief materials are distributed in the camps occasionally but how about, things that would guarantee the future of our young generations.
Just when other nations are investing in the future of their nation, we are playing politics with ours. Children sometimes sleep without food, and wakes up without any hope, according to the children I spoke with, they can’t even concentrate in class, they want to go back to their villages, where they have access to their farms and are assured of their usual daily meals.
I call on the government and every well meaning Nigerian to rise to this occasion, join hands and force the government to alleviate the plight of this children, they are our future. You would not be able to live in your glass towers anymore when the chips are down. We must rise for the right of that boy, that girl who lives in the IDP’s camp, and has no access to education.
Victor Adaha
Investigative reporter
