Comedian Ali Baba has expressed deep concerns regarding the pressing issues in Nigeria, particularly the alarming number of out-of-school children in the northern region. On September 24, 2024, he shared a video on Instagram showcasing numerous schoolchildren begging on the streets, calling for immediate action.
Reflecting on past discussions with friends from top universities, Ali Baba recounted their brainstorming efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges, highlighting that members from the North were often sensitive when the topic of out-of-school children arose. He stated, “Many, who believed, like me, that the failure of the government to properly educate the young children from birth to age 10 was going to be a time bomb waiting to explode. We agreed it was happening in the south, too, but the rate and number of out-of-school children were becoming alarming, especially in the northern parts of Nigeria.”
He recalled how the conversation shifted dramatically after a video surfaced of hundreds of children begging for food, not in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, but on the streets of Kano. As the discussion intensified, a Northern woman criticized him for perpetuating a negative narrative about the region.
Ali Baba emphasized the critical role of Nigeria’s elite in tackling the educational and social challenges the country faces, particularly in the North. He remarked, “I kuku left the group. Now, only the Northern people are complaining about what I complained about. But I don’t feel vindicated; I just realized that some of the Northern elites are responsible for the way things are.”
He concluded with a warning about the dire consequences of neglecting these issues, stating that the situation will only worsen if not addressed, urging for immediate and effective solutions to ensure the future of Nigeria’s youth.