Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has raised alarm over the staggering number of out-of-school children in the country, warning that the crisis is becoming a breeding ground for recruitment into extremist groups like Boko Haram. During a recent public address, Obasanjo cited Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children as a pressing national security concern, linking the lack of education and opportunities to the ongoing insurgency in the northern regions.
Nigeria currently holds the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with millions of youths, particularly in the northern parts, lacking access to formal education. Obasanjo emphasized that these children are vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by insurgent groups such as Boko Haram. He argued that without intervention, the country risks further instability and a prolonged conflict, as Boko Haram has historically capitalized on the frustrations and hopelessness of marginalized youths.
The extremist group, Boko Haram, has long been known to target disenfranchised youth, using their lack of education and socio-economic opportunities to recruit them into their ranks. Obasanjo noted that poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment are key drivers that continue to fuel the insurgency, creating a cycle of violence that is difficult to break without addressing the root causes.
Obasanjo called on both the government and private sector to urgently address the educational gap, suggesting a comprehensive plan to reintegrate these children into the educational system. He also urged international organizations to increase support for Nigeria’s educational sector to curb the rising number of out-of-school children, which he referred to as a “ticking time bomb.”
Addressing this crisis requires significant investment in education, infrastructure, and social welfare. As Obasanjo pointed out, ensuring that every child has access to quality education is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity to prevent the further spread of extremism.