Out-of-school children, challenge to Lagos State government, says LASUBEB boss

The Executive Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Wahab Olawale Alawiye-King, has said that the issue of out-of-school children in the state is a major challenge and requires the support of all and sundry.

He, therefore, sought organisations and individuals’ support to check the trend. Alawiye-King, spoke, yesterday, during the distribution of over 400 back-to-school materials to pupils in public primary and secondary schools that are less privileged by Human Development Initiatives (HDI).

He said: “This is a clear indication that government and the private sector need to work together. Government alone cannot do it; we need interventions from time to time. Out-of-school children have been a major challenge to the state government and require the support of all and sundry.

“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate HDI for making live better for all our children in the state. They have been a credible, supportive and socially-inclined organisation.”

Executive Director of HDI, Mrs. Olufunso Owasanoye, said the gesture aimed at preventing children from less privileged home dropping out of school because of school materials and inability to pay some basic fees, especially for those entering senior secondary schools.

“What we are witnessing today is the presentation of back-to-school kits to widows’ children, orphans and People With Disabilities (PWDs). This is a yearly event where we give them what they need to be comfortable in school in terms of learning, school bags, exercise books, sandals and mathematical sets.

She said that HDI had about 500 children in secondary schools and 70 in federal tertiary institutions across the country enjoying scholarship provided by the organisation.