A Non-Governmental Organisation, IA-FOUNDATION has said the organisation is set to raise funds for out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The Founder, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, chartered accountant based in UK, who spoke to journalists in Lagos, said the fundraising programme will take place at Civic Centre, Lagos on Saturday at 4pm prompt.
Adeagbo noted that the organisation is poised towards denting the 20.2 million out-of-school children.
She explained that those taken off the streets will be able to contribute meaningfully to the functioning and existence of government through taxes in future years.
“We are raising funds that will be used to take care of out-of-school children, so they do not resort to crime in future.
“This is because we want to dent that number. I know 20.2 million is a huge number but if we can pull 1 million children out of the street that is 1 million people out of poverty, 1million people who would get jobs and be paying taxes to the government.
“So, it goes in that direction. Apart from that, we are also using the advocacy route.” She said.
While explaining on the consequences of out-of-school children in Nigeria, Mrs Ibironke said high insecurity in Nigeria is because lots of children in those days that were on the streets that no one paid attention to had grown up without skills and the only option they have is to resort to crime.
She stated that there is need to pay attention to those 20.2 million people on the streets, enjoining NGOs and other well meaning Nigerians to support the government in getting those children off the streets.
“The reason we have high insecurity in Nigeria is because lots of children in those days that were on the streets that no one paid attention to had grown up without skills and the only option they have is to resort to crime.
“If you dont want that to happen again and in a bigger way, we need to pay attention to those 20.2 million people on the streets.
“Nigeria’s population is about 200 million plus. How can you have 10 percent of your population walking on the streets? Who does that? In our own interest, it ought to be a burning platform. We need to be intentional about it, especially now that we have a government with the political will.
“The NGOs and other well meaning Nigerians can support the government in getting those children off the streets.
“They don’t belong there. They belong in the classroom and that is why we are passionate in helping the government to solve this problem.” She said.
