Private schoolowners in the country have declared that the decision to offer scholarships at basic education level to no less than 1.2 million out-of-school children across Nigeria is on course.
The national President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (APPS), Mr Yomi Otubela, gave this hint in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune.
He said that NAPPS national executives unanimously took the decision in 2020 and encouraged each member to award scholarships to a target of 10 out-of-school and other vulnerable children per year and for a consecutive three years.
According to him, the gesture serves as a way of contributing to the reduction of out- of-school children’s burden on Nigeria.
NAPPS members which cut across the country, account for more than 65 percent of all the private schoolowners in Nigeria as there are several others operating under different bodies.
While disclosing that though he did not have an accurate figure of beneficiaries from all memberschools, his own school, Lagooz Schools, awards up to 20 scholarships annually.
Otubela said the rate at which out-of-school children in Nigeria is increasing particularly now that the country is more troubled with security challenges is worrisome and requires collective efforts to address.
He noted that the government could not all by itself take over 20 million out- of-school children in the country off the streets.
“Private sectors like ours have to offer help in this regard,” he added.
Otubala, however, urged government at all levels to provide adequate security in and around schools nationwide, saying incessant armed attack on schools will continue to make education unattractive to many parents.
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