A charity called IA-Foundation and a group called Peace and Social Justice have expressed worries that Nigerian schools have become targets of violence and terror.
Recently, bandits kidnapped over 280 pupils and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State.
The bandits attacked the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of the state, shooting at the victims before taking away at least 280 pupils and teachers from both schools.
IA-Foundation is an educational charity based in the United Kingdom that was established to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria; while PSJ-UK is a UK-based advocacy NGO of diasporas and friends of Nigeria committed to peacebuilding and social justice in Nigeria.
On Thursday, the NGO revealed that the unfortunate realities of the current situation were detailed in a report recently launched at the Jubilee Room of the House of Parliament, London, United Kingdom.
While discussing the report, the founder of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, described education as the foundation of a nation’s development, promoting critical thinking, opportunity, and a brighter future.
Adeagbo, however, mentioned that the foundation is currently under attack, adding that schools, once seen as safe places for learning, have become targets of violence and terror.
She stated that Nigeria has been struggling with a widespread and deeply concerning issue, the alarming increase of insecurity within its education sector over the past 10 years, since the 2014 Chibok school girls abduction.
She stated, “Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s development, promoting critical thinking, opportunity, and a brighter future.
“However in Nigeria, this cornerstone is under siege. Schools once regarded as safe havens for learning have become targets of violence and terror.
“Over the last 10 years, since the 2014 Chibok school girls abduction, Nigeria has been dealing with a pervasive and deeply troubling issue: the alarming increase of insecurity within its education sector.”.
The Chief Executive Officer, PSJ-UK, Ayo Adedoyin, in his remark, noted that every year since 2014, hundreds of innocent children in primary and secondary schools across the nation are kidnapped, and their dreams held for ransom.
Adedoyin said children have become victims of a terrifying cycle of kidnapping and ransom demands.
According to him, many die and never return, the weight of this fear has forced numerous schools to close, leaving a generation in the shadows of an uncertain future.
“Almost every year since 2014, hundreds of innocent children in primary and secondary schools across the nation are taken away, their dreams held for ransom.
“Children have become victims of a terrifying cycle of kidnapping and ransom demands.
“Sadly, many die and never return. The weight of this fear has forced numerous schools to close, leaving a generation in the shadows of an uncertain future,” he said.
The NGO suggested recommendations to protect schools, bring back a feeling of safety, and make sure that all children in Nigeria have the opportunity to learn and succeed.
During his presentation, Wale Olaoye, the Lead Speaker and CEO of Halogen Group, emphasized the importance of making education an integral part of preventing conflicts and promoting personal, political, and social change for long-term peace in Nigeria.
Olaoye, speaking on the topic of Nigeria's Illiteracy and Insecurity, recommended that integrating educational initiatives into all aspects of society consistently and thoroughly is more likely to produce significant changes.
He stated that continuous learning is crucial for the complete development of individuals and to build the skills needed to address new challenges in a rapidly changing world.
