Nigeria's Out-of-School Children Crisis: A National Emergency and Security Threat

This editorial highlights Nigeria's severe crisis of out-of-school children, citing UNICEF data that identifies 18.3 million affected individuals, the highest figure globally. The states of Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina bear nearly 30% of this burden. The article argues that this educational neglect has evolved into a national security emergency, as uneducated youth are increasingly vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups and criminal networks. Recent incidents, including the arrest of a teenager involved in terrorism and suicide bombings in Maiduguri, illustrate the deadly consequences of this failure. The author criticizes Nigerian political leaders for hypocrisy, noting that while their own children attend elite schools abroad, public education infrastructure remains dilapidated. The piece contrasts Nigeria's inaction with successful educational models in countries like India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, emphasizing that political will and investment can reduce illiteracy. It condemns ineffective government responses, such as questionable amnesty deals for bandits, and urges urgent, sustained attention to restore schooling. The editorial posits that ignoring this issue allows insecurity to metastasize, turning neglected children into future existential threats to society.