Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has restated his commitment to back initiatives to improve education and make it more accessible, especially for vulnerable children.
The governor, who stated this on Thursday at an event to Promote the Enrolment of Out-of-School Children (OOSC) in Port Harcourt, urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to identify and enrol out-of-school children across Nigeria.
He noted that “every child deserves access to quality and inclusive education,” adding that “education remains a fundamental pillar of sustainable development.”
Fubara, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, also stressed the need to ensure that “no child is left behind” because of economic hardship, social background or other barriers to schooling.
The governor said: “Rivers State remains committed to supporting initiatives that expand access to inclusive and quality education, particularly for vulnerable children who may have missed the opportunity to attend formal schools,”
He noted that expanding access to education was essential to promoting “sustainable development, social inclusion and equal opportunities,” adding that it would enable children to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
The governor appealed to participating states and communities to translate their commitments into “concrete and measurable actions” by reaching vulnerable children, and by strengthening community engagement.
The governor pointed out that by encouraging parents and guardians to make their children’s education a priority, children who have been excluded from formal schooling will have the chance to attend school.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, described the growing number of out-of-school children as “one of the major challenges confronting the education sector.”
She called for “a collective and collaborative approach” among governments, communities, parents and other stakeholders to address the problem.
