NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ALMAJIRI INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO CAPTURE OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BAYELSA

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education effort to identify and enroll out-of-school children in Bayelsa State are gaining significant momentum, with civil society organizations, CSOs working tirelessly around the clock to ensure no child is left behind.

According to Mr. Daniel Karamo, the state coordinator of the Commission, it is committed to restoring the right to education for every Nigerian child, especially in underserved communities.

One of the standout contributors to the initiative is the Women Organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network, WOMAN, a grassroots advocacy group that recently toured four communities in Nembe Local Government Area as part of the Commission’s ongoing mopping-up exercise.

The organization’s field team met with families, traditional leaders, and local authorities in a door-to-door campaign aimed at identifying out-of-school children and sensitizing parents on the importance of formal education.

Speaking on the progress made, Lady Eunice Nnachi, WOMAN’s Executive Director, noted that community reception has been positive, with many parents’ expressing willingness to enroll their children once barriers such as poverty and access are addressed.

The mopping-up exercise is part of a national strategy to support the Federal Government’s goal of drastically reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria, currently estimated in the millions.

Reported by Isaac Eyedoude