Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria presents a significant risk for the recruitment of future Boko Haram insurgents if not urgently addressed. He made this statement on Sunday in Bauchi during the inauguration of the dualised seven-kilometre Awala-Mairuguri Road and the 17.70-kilometre Awalah-Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa National Airport Road, along with the 30-kilometre Gubi-Ruda Bida-Siyi-Nasarawa Road.
In his speech, Obasanjo highlighted the critical role of education and human capacity building in fostering societal development and safety. He noted, “The World Bank reports that we have over 20 million out-of-school children who should be in school but are not. For a population of about 220 to 230 million, that represents 10 percent of our population.”
He addressed the leaders present, saying, “Dear governor of Bauchi State, your Royal Highnesses, brothers and sisters, that is recruitment for future Boko Haram, and nobody needs to tell us that.” Obasanjo stressed that neglecting this demographic not only hampers their ability to contribute positively to society but also creates a pool of potential recruits for insurgency and banditry in the future.
He urged leaders at all levels to collaborate and seek lasting solutions to the issue of out-of-school children, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for the safety and development of the nation.