The Head of FSS, Hajia Iliya Ville, stated this at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria.
An inter-governmental organisation, Financing Safe Schools Secretariat (FSS), has said that at least 11,536 schools have been shut down by the Nigerian government since 2020 over the deteriorating security situation.
The Head of FSS, Hajia Iliya Ville, stated this at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria (Issues and Strategic Options for the way forward).
Ville, who lamented that the population of out-of-school children is on increase, stressed that the latest figure stood at over 18 million.
Daily Independent quoted Ville as saying that “It is with great concern that I wish to point out to this distinguished gathering, that approximately 11,536 schools in Nigeria were reported earlier this year by UNICEF to have been closed since December 2020 due to abductions and security-related issues. The population of out-of-school children is on the increase. A recent report by ECC puts the figure at over 18 million.”
The FSS boss emphasised the importance of the National Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum, noting that it was meant to harvest the experience, views and suggestions of critical stakeholders into the formulation of the National Document on Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria.
She noted that the plan aims to set out three-year spending plans for financing and creating Safe learning in Nigeria.
According to her, the process of developing this Plan started in January this year when the Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, developed a Terms of Reference and approved the setting up of the Financing Safe Schools, FSS Secretariat to work in close synergy with critical stakeholders to develop the National Plan.
She therefore called on all stakeholders to be part of this initiative as tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today and education is an important element in the struggle of life.
She maintained that “The future of our children lies in our hands; we need to work together collectively and secure the future of our children."
According to her, "When you look into a child’s eyes you see pure innocence and purity. Let's save and protect the future today for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today and education is an important element in the struggle of life.”