Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged urgent action to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, cautioning that millions of neglected youths risk being recruited by Boko Haram. He spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Bakhita ICT Centre in Sokoto.
Obasanjo described the estimated 24 million out-of-school children nationwide as a “time bomb” and warned that northern Nigeria—home to over 10 million of these children—faces the greatest risk. “You don’t need an oracle to know they will become the recruiting ground for the Boko Haram of tomorrow,” he said, urging leaders to prioritize “human development, empowerment, and employment.”
The former president’s warning comes amid persistent education and poverty challenges in northern Nigeria, exacerbated by violent extremism, banditry, and mass abductions of schoolchildren. “If we fail to prepare now, the Boko Haram of today will be child’s play compared with what we may face in the future,” he added.
The Bakhita ICT Centre, built by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, with support from philanthropist Aare Afe Babalola, is equipped with 250 laptops and 50 tablets. It aims to provide digital skills and vocational training for young people.
Bishop Kukah urged northern leaders to reject fatalistic acceptance of poverty. “Among the almajiri on our streets, there could be an Albert Einstein,” he said. He also emphasized unity across religious lines, noting that shared challenges require collective solutions.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, echoed these sentiments, warning against exaggerating Nigeria’s divisions. “Problems affect us all, and solutions must come from us working together,” he said.
The event brought together traditional rulers, clerics, politicians, and youths, and featured cultural performances celebrating Nigeria’s shared heritage.
