The high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has been described as a threat to the nation’s peace and security.
Presently, 18.3 million children are out of school in Nigeria, one of the highest in the world.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reports that 1 in 3 Nigerian children is out of school, with about 10.2 million children at the primary level and about 8.1 million at the junior secondary school level.
At his investiture as the Ambassador for the United Nations Youth Association – Nigeria (UNYA-NG), Ogaziechi condemned the high number of disadvantaged children.
He stated that their plight poses a substantial barrier to peace in the nation.
“These children will be the reason we won’t have peace as they embrace criminality on the streets,” he said.
While describing ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace’, the theme of the recently concluded UNYA-NG summit to commemorate the United Nations’ International Day of Peace 2024, as highly relevant, Chikezie Ogaziechi emphasised the need for concerted efforts by all key stakeholders, including the private sector, to address the issue holistically for the sake of sustainable peace in the country.
According to him, it is worth emulatingq the strides made by Child Plus Africa in bridging the inequality gap, adding that the organization has successfully taken hundreds of children off the streets and returned them to the classroom.
He highlighted the strides made by Child Plus Africa in bridging the inequality gap, describing the organization’s efforts as worthy of emulation for successfully taking hundreds of children off the streets and returning them to the classroom.
“Taking the children out of the streets and returning them to the classrooms is a job everyone must be a part of,” he said.
In his remarks, the President of UNYA-NG, Ambassador Eze Ihechukwumere Ezekiel, also reiterated the need for the restoration of world peace, saying, “As we commemorate the UN Day of Peace, we implore all humanity in Nigeria and across the globe to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations and in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
Source: The Nation
