MAIDUGURI ( Sundiata Scholar) – Street Child of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, has pledged to support Borno government to address out-of-school children in the state.
The Country Director, Jummai Musa, stated this on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Borno Commissioner for Information and Internal Security,
Prof. Usman Tar.Musa, accompanied by Dr Anthony Kurt Wallersteine, Co-Chair of Street Child International (UK), said the organisation focused on education, livelihood and child protection.
She lamented that there was an estimated 500,000 out-of-school children in the state, adding that the organisation was currently assisting 42,000 of them.
She said the organisation was working in 22 countries, and provided critical interventions in 13 local government areas of Borno.
According to Musa, the organisation is committed to supporting out-of-school children, a key focus area in Borno.
Also, Wallersteine, who sympathised with government over the recent flood disaster in the state, said sustaining education efforts was essential in combating radicalism in the region.
Responding, Tar attributed the prevalence of street children in Borno, to its historical welcoming environment, which attracted people from across Nigeria.
He said that with increased security concerns, the government had intensified surveillance to reduce the number of unaccompanied minors coming into the state.
According to him, the ongoing resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the reopening of schools in their ancestral home will stimulate reintegration of many children into formal education system.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to support the welfare and educational needs of children in the state.(NAN)
