UNICEF, Northern Traditional Leaders to hold conference on Out of School Children
Committee
By Maharazu Ahmed
Kaduna, July 24, 2018 (NAN) The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar, on Tuesday in Kaduna inaugurated the planning committee on the forthcoming Northern Nigeria Traditional Leaders conference on Out of School Children in the region.
The Sultan, who was represented by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, said the committee was mandated to articulate road map for the conference.
He said that the conference would focus on the serious problem of out of school children in the region and come up with workable solutions to address the menace.
Abubakar told the committee members that the intention was not play politics with the problem, but “say it as it is and adopt measures to tackle the issue once and for all.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference is being organised by UNICEF in partnership with Sultan Foundation for Peace and Universal Basic Education Commission.
He stressed that the traditional rulers were deeply concerned over the problem of out of school children in the country, with the North having the bulk number of such children.
The Sultan explained that current increase in violence in parts of the country cannot be divorced from the high number of those who were unable to access education.
According to him, efforts must therefore be made to expand access to quality education for all, to save the region’s future.
NAN reports that the three committees, that of contact and mobilisation, media and publicity as well as technical, were inaugurated at the event by the representative of the Sultan.
Although no date has been fixed for the conference, the committees have tentatively agreed to any date immediately after the Muslim pilgrimage coming up by the end of August.(NAN)
MZA