The United Nations Children’s Fund and the Ogun State House of Assembly recently joined forces in a commitment to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state. The signing of the certificate of commitment took place during a visit by the UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Mrs Celine Lafoucriere, and her team to the state legislators at the Assembly Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
During the meeting, Lafoucriere emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of out-of-school children and expressed UNICEF’s dedication to partnering with the assembly members to tackle this pressing concern. She highlighted that there are millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with a significant percentage coming from Ogun state.
Lafoucriere urged the Ogun State House of Assembly to prioritize efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in their constituencies. The UNICEF Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti, also shared insights from a survey conducted on out-of-school children in Ogun state, revealing the challenges faced by children in accessing education, particularly due to poverty and lack of resources.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Oludaisi Elemide, acknowledged the urgency of the situation and pledged to collaborate effectively with UNICEF to improve the education system in the state. He expressed the willingness of the state government to work towards enhancing the standard of education and ensuring that all children have access to quality schooling.