By JKNewsMedia
CONCERNS OVER the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State has been raised by Youth Advocate for Change (YAfC) , which warned against attempts by politicians and other stakeholders to play politics with an issue affecting the lives and future of innocent children.
The group’s Team Lead, Adeola Ogunlade, in a statement issued, said more than two weeks after the abduction of 47 persons, including schoolchildren and their teachers, while learning activities were ongoing, serious concerns remain about the safety of children in schools across the country.
Ogunlade questioned what offence the children had committed in their pursuit of education and their desire to become responsible and productive citizens in the future.
He stated that schools are meant to be safe spaces for learning, growth and development, not places of fear and uncertainty.
He described recurring cases of kidnapping involving schoolchildren and teachers as a national emergency requiring urgent and decisive action.
While commending the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing the number of out of school children in Nigeria, he said such efforts could be undermined if schools remain unsafe, noting that parents would be reluctant to send their children to school when they fear for their safety.
Ogunlade stated that Nigeria already carries the burden of having one of the highest numbers of out of school children globally.
He added that the country is also grappling with educational challenges including inadequate school infrastructure, poverty, forced displacement of communities, low learning outcomes and limited access to digital learning opportunities.
He cited communities such as Makoko, where thousands of children were affected and many dropped out of school following forced evictions, saying the existing challenges had already placed significant pressure on the education sector.
According to him, the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers represents another major setback and a serious threat to efforts by government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations working to improve access to education and learning outcomes for Nigerian children.
The YAfC also called on the FG to urgently review and strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative Programme to ensure that schools, particularly those in vulnerable and underserved communities, are adequately protected.
Ogunlade stated that education remains the foundation of national development and the springboard for building a productive, prosperous and peaceful society, adding that any threat to the safety of educational institutions is a direct threat to the future well-being and progress of the nation.
His group also urged security agencies, governments at all levels, community leaders and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts toward securing the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted children and their teachers.
“This is not the time for political point scoring. It is a time for collective action, responsibility, and compassion. The lives, future, and dreams of these children must remain our highest priority,” Ogunlade said.
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