New Telegraph

It’s scandalous for Nigeria to still be dealing with out-of-school children, says Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that it was scandalous for Nigeria to still be dealing with out-of-school children at this age and time.

Osinbajo said this Thursday in his virtual comments while declaring open the 20th meeting of the Joint Planning Board and the National Council on Development Planning which held in Maiduguri, Borno State Thursday.

Speaking about human development in the country ahead of COVID-19 pandemic, Osinbajo, in a release by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, emphasized that deep planning could leapfrog the nation into digital age.

He explained: “There are those who wonder how a country like Nigeria will cope with the 4th Industrial Revolution given that we have struggled to catch up with the 2nd and 3rd Industrial Revolutions. But the answer is simple: education, education, education, especially basic education. It is scandalous for us to be dealing with out-of-school children.

“We must put resources into education; today we have no choice but to focus on relevant education. Education that will prepare our young people for 21st-century jobs and opportunities.

“At the same time, we must find the resources to invest in technology and related broadband infrastructure if we are to help the budding technology ecosystem in our country to continue to excel.”

According to him the need for relevant education made the government to begin to work assiduously with the African Development Bank to launch the Nigerian Innovation Programme which will be backed by a $500 million fund to support the technology and creative sectors of the economy.

On the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), Osinbajo said: “It is another development with great promise for Nigeria’s economic prospects but one for which we have to be well prepared.

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