Lagos State Government, yesterday, commended the efforts of IA-Foundation in reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state and Nigeria at large.

The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, gave the commendation when the Board of Trustees, representatives, and members of staff of IA-Foundation paid a courtesy visit to him in a bid to strengthen collaborations and address educational challenges in the state.

He urged the Foundation to intensify its focus on Lagos State, emphasising the state’s unique status as “a country in a country” with a substantial population and a significant number of out-of-school children.

Alli-Balogun, while recognising the diversity of challenges faced by children who may not be inclined to pursue formal education, encouraged the Foundation to invest more in skills acquisition programmes.

This, he believed, would empower children to take charge of their lives and contribute meaningfully to society. The commissioner, therefore, pledged to collaborate with IA-Foundation in promoting skills acquisition programmes across the state.

He also expressed his commitment to working hand in hand with the Foundation to ensure no child is left on the streets without access to education or skills development opportunities.

Chairman, Board of Strategic Communications, Deji Ishmael, who led the Foundation’s team, including the Vice Chairman, DiranFamakinwa and Programme Support Officer, Opeyemi Grace Adedara, expressed their appreciation for the commissioner’s encouragement and his expressed interest in partnership.

The team assured the commissioner that the details of their discussions would be communicated to the Foundation’s board. Meanwhile, as a tangible step towards fostering continued engagement, an invitation letter for the Foundation’s fifth fundraising and charity ball for out-of-school children was presented to the commissioner who graciously accepted the invitation, promising his attendance at the event.