Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children, potential insurgents – Obasanjo

By Kunle Sanni

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns about the estimated 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that they could become potential recruits for the Boko Haram terrorist group.

He made these remarks during the commissioning ceremony of several projects in Bauchi, executed by the state’s governor, Bala Mohammed.

Obasanjo highlighted this alarming figure, which accounts for roughly 10 percent of the nation’s population, as a significant threat to Nigeria’s future stability.

He emphasized that human capacity development and education are critical components for the progress and security of any country, calling for urgent action to address the issue.

“The World Bank says we have over 20 million children who should be in school but are not, in a population of about 230 million; that’s 10 percent of our population,” Obasanjo said.

“That is recruitment for future Boko Haram; nobody needs to tell us that. Apart from the fact that 10 percent of our population is not equipped to develop their innate ability and capacity to serve themselves, their families, and their communities, we are also preparing them to be recruited in 10 to 15 years for whatever form of Boko Haram or banditry may exist by then.”

In a report published on June 24, 2024, the World Bank stated that there are 11 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, based on the national education data survey of 2020.

However, in a report released in September 2022, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) stated that there were 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria.