Parents have been urged to take advantage of the free educational programs of the government to reduce the alarming rate of out-of-school children in Bayelsa State.
This was made known by the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, at the launch of the National Campaign on out-of-school children in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Governor also appreciated the federal government for their efforts in combating the unfortunate menace in the state.
Last year’s report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, says that about 20 million children are out of school in Nigeria.
According to the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board, Bayelsa accounts for 265,000 of that figure, and 60 percent of the number are girls.
Perhaps this may be the reason why the minister of state for education, Goodluck Opiah, is in Yenagoa to launch the National Campaign on out-of-school Children in the state.
Speaking at the occasion, The Bayelsa State Governor, Douyi Diri bemoaned the alarming figures, referring to the state’s law on free and compulsory education for children, promulgated since 2018 by the previous administration.
About sixty percent of out-of-school children in Bayelsa are said to benefit from the federal government campaign which includes all educational essentials such as books, bags, and writing materials.
The minister is joined by Governor Douye Diri to officially hand over some of the items to the children.
PRESIDENT BUHARI PROMISES BETTER SECURITY, IMPROVED ECONOMY BEFORE MAY 29TH
President Muhammadu Buhari says the gains recorded in security will be further consolidated, and more attention will be given to the economy, before handing over on May 29, 2023.
The President said this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving executive members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the State House.
President Buhari said the security situation had improved over the years, particularly in the North East where the focus had shifted to rebuilding infrastructure and re-orientation on education.
He told the Catholic Bishops that the government will continue rebuilding infrastructure in parts of the country affected by terrorist attacks, while underscoring that terrorists had no control over any space in Nigeria.
On the economy, the President said creditors had full confidence in Nigeria, with the capacity to utilize resources and repay loans before the approvals were granted.
President Buhari said the destruction of oil facilities slowed the generation of revenues, and the government would be harder on saboteurs.
He said some of the challenges faced in the past, which include coups and counter-coups, and civil war, had prepared the nation for survival.
The President noted that he had been part of Nigeria’s history since 1967, fighting in the civil war, serving as governor, minister, Head of State, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, contesting presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, before winning in 2015.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and President of the CBCN, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, commended the President for reforms in the electoral system, making it more stable and fair, particularly the signing of the Electoral Bill into law.
Ugorji urged the President to use the remaining months in office as Commander-in-Chief to tackle insecurity in the country, and improve the economy.
The Catholic Bishops presented a souvenir to President Buhari, containing a letter of encouragement and prayers for the forthcoming elections.
