Saturday, 12 October 2024 04:57

Govs agree to allocate 15% of annual budget to education as UN says one in three Nigerian children out of school

Rate this item
(0 votes)

State governors have committed to setting aside 15 percent of their annual budgets to fund the education sector.

The United Nations recommends that its member states earmark four to six percent of their GDP or 15 to 20 percent of public expenditure (annual budget) to fund education.

Many coucuries, including Nigeria, have yet to reach this threshold.

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) hosted its first international conference on girl child education on October 10 and 11, 2024.

At the the conference, 36 state governments committed to allocating at least 15 percent of their annual budgets to the education sector.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara state governor who serves as the NGF chairman, spoke at the event in Abuja.

Represented by Abdulateef Shittu, the NGF director-general, AbdulRazaq said there is an urgent need to invest in schools and to address the barriers to girl child education.

“Our commitment as a forum to education financing, especially girl child education funding is unwavering across the states,” he said.

“We declare our readiness to meet the international benchmark of at least 15% annual budgetary allocation to the education sector.”

The NGF’s maiden conference culminated in the launch of an initiative called the Girl Child Education Volunteers’ Advocates (GICEVA).

AbdulRazaq assured that subnationals will mobilise over 774,000 volunteers across local governments to advocate girl child education.

The UN says one in three Nigerian children is out of school, 10.2 million at primary school level and 8.1 million at junior secondary level.

It adds that insufficient domestic finance for primary education caused a shortfall of 378,000 classrooms and about 278,000 teachers.

Among the attendees at the NGF’s conference on girl child education was Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the minister of women affairs.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said the federal government will begin a drive to rescue out-of-school children from the streets as from October 15.

“Picking those children from the street will allow us to have access to their parents, especially their mothers,” she said.

“We have a comprehensive plan to empower these women so they can adequately care for their children.

“This approach aims not only to bring children back into education but also to enhance the economic stability of their families.”

 

The Cable

April 30, 2025

NNPCL faces criticism as Warri Refinery fails to take off after $897m in repairs bill

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is under scrutiny after the Warri Refining and Petrochemical…
April 28, 2025

Natasha mocks Akpabio in scathing ‘apology’ over sexual harassment claim

Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Sunday delivered a blistering, sarcastic "apology" to Senate…
April 29, 2025

How African popes changed Christianity - and gave the world Valentine's Day

Now predominantly Muslim, North Africa was once a Christian heartland, producing Catholic popes who left…
April 26, 2025

Declassified CIA file about UFO aliens attacking soldiers released

A declassified document posted to the CIA’s website is raising eyebrows with claims of an…
April 29, 2025

At least 26 people killed as 2 vehicles run over bomb planted by Boko Haram…

At least 26 people were killed on Monday when two vehicles detonated an improvised explosive…
April 30, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 572

UN chief urges 'irreversible action' on Israel, Palestinian two-state solution United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres…
April 27, 2025

Smartphone use could reduce dementia risk in older adults, study finds

The first generation that has been exposed consistently to digital technology has reached the age…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.