Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that if left unaddressed, the issue could serve as a breeding ground for future Boko Haram insurgents.
Obasanjo made this statement on Sunday in Bauchi during the inauguration of several key road projects, including the dualised seven-kilometre Awala-Mairuguri Road and the 17.70-kilometre Awalah-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa National Airport Road. He also inaugurated the 30-kilometre Gubi-Ruda Bida-Siyi-Nasarawa Road.
Speaking at the ceremony, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of education and human capacity building as crucial elements for development and maintaining a safer society.
Quoting the World Bank, Obasanjo highlighted, “World Bank says we have over 20 million out-of-school children, who should be in school but are not. For a population of about 220 to 230 million, that is 10 per cent of our population that should be in school but are not.”
He continued, “Dear governor of Bauchi State, your Royal Highnesses present here, brothers and sisters, that is recruitment for future Boko Haram, and nobody needs to tell us that.”
Obasanjo stressed that the problem goes beyond education, noting the potential security risks that could emerge in the next decade or two. “We are preparing them for whatever form of banditry, and it will not be kidnappers in the usual sense by that time. They may be coming to homes to snatch people from their homes. Think about it,” he warned.
The former president called on leaders across the nation to unite in addressing this growing menace once and for all.
He also commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his extensive road projects, which, according to Obasanjo, would open new avenues for development, boost commerce, create employment opportunities, and improve the quality of life for the residents and farmers in Bauchi State.
Governor Mohammed, in his remarks, noted that the road projects were part of his administration’s broader development vision. “As of today, we have undertaken the construction of over 116 roads, totalling 1,482.25 kilometres across the state. Out of these, 79 have been completed and are ready for inauguration,” the governor stated.
In addition to the road inaugurations, Obasanjo also launched the distribution of 10,000 hearing aids to underprivileged individuals from the Northeast, a project facilitated by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in collaboration with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
