The Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with Anambra state Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB has flagged off the National Campaign on Out of School Children programme in the six Geo- political Zones in Nigeria held in Awka.
The flag off campaign at the ASUBEB premises attracted officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, Anambra Ministry of Education, ASUBEB, Women leaders, Community based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, ASUBEB Board members, parents and children.
Items distributed to the children were school bags, sandals, instructional materials, books among others.
Performing the function, the Minister of State for Education, Hon GoodLuck Apiah represented by Mrs Agatha Ogefere stated that no nation can achieve sustainable development without the contributions of a greater percentage of her population as no nation can make meaningful progress with a high number of illiterate youths.
He stated that Out Of School Children is inimical to the growth and development of any country, noting that the Federal government is set to identify children of school age to ensure their enrollment in school with close proximity to their homes and urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the children especially the indigent ones in the society are sponsored to achieve a better, reliable and safer society.
Presenting an address, the Director of Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folake Olatunji-David represented by Mr Afowowe Olugbolahan said that stemming the tide of Out Of School Children is a task that the present government wants to accomplish to curtail its spiral effect of having a large number of uneducated population and commended Anambra state for its achievements in the Education sector as well as youth development.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chima-Udeh thanked the Federal Ministry of Education for the campaign and said that education is Paramount to the development of any society.
The Executive Chairmen of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi expressed happiness over the campaign and called on parents to enroll their children of school age in school for a brighter future.
On his part, the Director PRS and Procurement Department of ASUBEB, Dr. Uchenna Ezeani noted that Out Of School Children aged 6 to 11 years depicts number of children of school age that do not have access to basic education and enumerated causes of out of school children to include non-enforcement of Universal Basic Education law, poverty, hard to reach communities and cultural belief system.
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