Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, has advocated for Nigeria to implement a birth control strategy to tackle the increasing number of children not receiving formal education. During a recent gathering held by UNICEF alongside the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Alli-Balogun highlighted the importance of implementing Legislation restricting the total number of children a man may have. He proposed that such a policy could greatly diminish the number of children not enrolled in school throughout the various geopolitical regions of the nation.
Alli-Balogun pointed out that many Nigerians frequently cover their actions with religious or cultural justifications for bringing children into the world without the means to support them. He stated that this issue requires Regulation through suitable laws. They must discourage the trend of Nigerians having children they cannot support. He suggested that the national government should consider passing legislation that different state governments could subsequently adopt to tackle the problem of children who are not in school and the related socio-economic difficulties.
Several children were moved to Southwest without any specific goals.
In the gathering that included education commissioners, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) chairmen, Civil Society organisations, legislators, and community representatives from six different states, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos and Oyo, Alli-Balogun emphasised that while it might not be feasible for any nation to have zero children out of school, it is possible to decrease those figures significantly. He remarked that implementing a legislative structure aimed at promoting responsible parenting would represent progress for Nigeria, emphasising that it would redirect some attention from children to their parents.
A large population of out-of-school children in Nigeria increases mainly from personal choices rather than solely from government shortcomings. It’s troubling to witness kids abandoned in public spaces without any guidance or protection. In his view, this indicates a negative societal norm that requires correction. The commissioner highlighted his worries regarding the Southwest, a region once seen as having educational advantages, which is currently experiencing a notable increase in out-of-school children. He linked this issue to various reasons, such as the constant influx of migrants and their school-aged children from other areas and bordering nations, especially Lagos, which is recognised as a financial centre and a place of relative tranquillity.
Parental responsibilities should also be emphasised along Child Rights.
He observed that several children come to the city without any specific goals or direction. Although Nigeria has legislation such as the Child Rights Act to safeguard children, he explains that these provisions fall short as they mainly emphasise children’s rights and protection instead of highlighting parental responsibilities. Effective parenting plays a vital role in tackling this issue, pointing to the regulations in nations such as the United States, where it is legally mandated for parents, especially fathers, to support their children after paternity is confirmed.
Speaking further, he proposed that Nigeria might gain from adopting comparable laws, indicating that such legislation would enhance the work of the government and various partners striving to decrease the population of children not attending school. He commended the initiatives taken by Lagos State, including the Zero Project and the Leave No Child Behind policy, which focus on reintegrating out-of-school children through diverse approaches. He detailed several strategies employed by Lagos State to address the problem.
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Among these are intensified efforts to reintegrate out-of-school children into education, utilising radio spots in various local languages such as Pidgin, Egun, Yoruba, and Ijebu to engage diverse community members. Also, the state authorities are constructing additional educational facilities, renovating current ones, recruiting new educators, and granting licenses to several private institutions to meet the rising student population. Also, the commissioner highlighted that implementing birth control measures and enforcing stricter parental duties could significantly contribute to tackling the issue of out-of-school kids in Nigeria, reinforcing the government’s larger initiatives to ensure education is accessible for everyone.