Nigerian corporate entity, A. P. MCNISI Limited has warned that Nigeria’s growing population of out-of-school children poses a grave threat to the country’s economic growth, national security and long-term development.

It called for sustained investment in education to avert what it described as a looming national crisis.

In a statement by its Chief Information Officer, Abdulmuiz Oshodi, titled “A Looming Danger: Why Nigeria Cannot Afford an Uneducated Generation,” the company said millions of young Nigerians remain without access to quality education, vocational training and opportunities needed to become productive members of society.

According to the firm, Nigeria’s youthful population should be regarded as its greatest asset, but warned that inadequate investment in education could turn that demographic advantage into a liability.

It said: “Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world. Millions of young people grow up without access to consistent schooling, vocational training, or a clear path toward productive adulthood.

“An uneducated youth population feeds cycles of poverty, weakens the workforce a growing economy depends on, and creates fertile ground for crime, exploitation, and unrest,” the firm said.

The company described the challenge as extending beyond a humanitarian concern, insisting it had become both an economic and national security issue requiring urgent intervention by government and the private sector.

While commending the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major step towards expanding access to higher education, the firm said the scheme demonstrated that Nigerian youths would seize educational opportunities when barriers were removed.

“A. P. MCNISI Limited sees NELFUND as proof of concept: that when the right structures are put in place, Nigeria’s youth respond. The demand is there. The talent is there. What has often been missing is the sustained investment to unlock it,” the statement said.

However, it argued that the education loan scheme could not address the wider challenge of millions of children who never reach tertiary institutions because of poverty, homelessness and limited access to basic education.
The company called on private organisations to complement government efforts by supporting feeding programmes, shelter, foundational education, scholarships and vocational training through partnerships with non-governmental organisations.

Highlighting its own interventions, the firm said it had begun supporting vulnerable children through NGO partnerships by providing feeding, housing and educational assistance, while creating entry-level employment opportunities for young people transitioning from such programmes.

“We do not see this as charity in the traditional sense. We see it as an investment in the workforce we will need, the customers our economy will depend on, and the stability our communities require to thrive,” it stated.

The company urged government, the private sector and civil society organisations to strengthen collaboration in tackling the education crisis, warning that every year of delayed action would deepen future economic and social challenges, while stressing that sustained investment and coordinated action could still reverse the trend.