Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that security challenges besetting the country will remain insurmountable if drastic steps are not taken to tackle the menace of out-of-school children.

Obasanjo,  who attributed the state of insecurity in the country to the high rate of out-of-school children across states, stressed that criminality would remain if poverty and unemployment were not addressed frontally.

The former president stated this at the Founders’ Day celebrations, an award presentation, and a fundraising ceremony of Apata Community Grammar School (ACGS), Ibadan, organised by the school’s Alumni  Association which was held at the Jogor Centre Ibadan.

Obasanjo, who was the special guest at the event,  lamented the menace of 20 million out-of-school children.

He said: “Let me also say this, in spite of what we see around us, we are still a backward country as far as education is concerned. 273 universities, but we have 20 million children who should be in school that are not in school and they are all over Nigeria. There’s no state that can claim that all the children that should be in school are in school. No state. There are differences, Yes. So,  that is a challenge for all of us.

“This is the cause of the type of problem we are in now. Problem of insecurity. The main causes of this, are poverty, unemployment, and lack of education, among the children and youth that should be employed who have no employment, that should be given skill, who have no skill and they have to live and they live on criminality.

“It is our responsibility, and unless we do something about it, insecurity will not go away, unless we do something about it, banditry will not go away, unless we do something about it, kidnapping will not go away. We are challenged, and part of what we can do is what the old students of ACGS are doing.

“Get yourself together and do something about education.The commissioner said 21 per cent  of the budget of the state goes for education, but even the government, is overwhelmed with issues that need attention. The government needs helping hands in all areas, but particularly in the area of education. And we can do it. So, you are all students of ACGS. I congratulate you.”

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Obasanjo, who lauded the former students for making a difference in the school, charged them to liaise with the school authorities to find out what are the essential facilities and materials that would make the school continue to fly high.

He  had commissioned a basketball court in the school premises named after the late former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige

Earlier, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Soliu Adelabu, said the state government prioritised education and thus committed 21 per cent of its 2024 budget to the sector in line with UNESCO standards.

“No society can develop beyond the level of her education, so, we take education seriously in the state and we don’t leave any arm of education unattended to and that is why our teachers are our assets. We are recruiting 7500 teachers into our secondary schools as a result of the vision we have for educational development in the state,” Makinde said.

Adelabu, who assured of the state government support to the management of the ACGS, lauded the Alumni Association for complementing the government’s efforts.

In his welcome address, the National President of the association, Prince Bashorun Adewunmi thanked Obasanjo for gracing the occasion,  promising to hold the event annually as an avenue to give back to the alma mater.

The event featured the presentation of awards to Obasanjo, who was given the Patron Award, Governor Seyi Makinde, (Life Patron Award), Mrs Olabisi Are (Pioneer Principal Award) as well as other members of the alumni association.