By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS– As various countries strive to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030, a recent research by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said about 258 million children and youths are out of school.
The research said as of the school year ending in 2018, the total was 59 million children of primary school age, 62 million of lower secondary school age and 138 million of upper secondary age.
As of 2024, there was no certainty about the reduction of this figure owing to the economic crisis that various countries were battling with.
Nigeria is not an exception as there are many out-of-school children across many states in the federation.
Lagos State has introduced certain measures to checkmate the number of the out-of-school children but it is of note that only the government cannot confront the challenge which requires the intervention of individuals and corporate bodies.
The good news is that Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association(LERSA), in the Etiosa Local Government area of Lagos State, has taken the Bull by its horn by introducing the Out-of-School initiative in the axis.
The Stakeholders said the initiative would reduce the menace of street urchins in the State particularly in Lekki and its environs.
The leadership of LERSA: Alhaji Sulyman Bello, President, Mrs Bolaji Osime, Education Committee Chairman, and Mrs Derin Onalaja, Out-of-school-children Subcommittee Chairperson, disclosed this in a chat with Citizens Compass saying the Association was aimed at creating a platform for all Lekki estates and stakeholders to deliberate on issues that commonly affect estates.
According to the community leaders, “At LERSA, we are committed to improving the quality of life in Lekki and beyond by addressing key societal challenges, including access to education.
On what brought about the Out-of-School initiative, they said,
“LERSA’s Out-of-School initiative is dedicated to identifying and reintegrating children who have dropped out of school due to financial hardship, family circumstances, or societal neglect.
“The goal is to provide sustainable educational opportunities by enrolling these children in schools, offering scholarships, and ensuring they receive necessary academic and emotional support to succeed.
“The initiative is also centered on providing educational interventions for marginalized communities in the Lekki axis that do not have access to quality education due to environmental, structural and economic conditions.
“This initiative is a collaborative effort involving LERSA executives, education committee members, corporate sponsors, private sponsors, non governmental organisations, and government agencies. We work to bridge the educational gap by:
Providing tuition support and educational materials for children and schools in marginalized communities.
“It is an avenue to engage with families and communities to emphasise the importance of education.
“The initiative partners with schools to facilitate reintegration.
offering training for schools partnering with us.
By doing so, it reintegrates out-of-school children.
“LERSA is directly reducing the number of uneducated youth in Lagos, which helps decrease crime rates, improve economic prospects, and foster a more literate society. The initiative also strengthens community cohesion by promoting shared responsibility for the welfare and education of vulnerable children.”
On what informed the initiative, they said, “In a press statement signed by the Director, Princess Hamman-Obels in January, 2025, a research by UNICEF has revealed that we have approximately 18.3 million children who are out of school as of late 2024, making Nigeria the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.
“A research by CPE, 2025, said that Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic hub, is facing a significant challenge: a substantial number of children, particularly those aged 6-15, remain outside the formal education system. Despite its economic prowess, recent statistics reveal that Lagos State has an out-of-school rate of 6.4%, underscoring a critical issue in the education sector.
“The initiative was born out of the growing concern about the rising number of out-of-school children in Lagos, particularly in underprivileged communities within Lekki and its surroundings.
“In support of the Lagos state Project Zero initiative, LERSA recognized that education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, and as stakeholders in the community, we saw the need to step in and drive change with the Lagos state government.
Funding
“The project is primarily funded by LERSA members, corporate partners, philanthropic individuals, and organizations committed to SDG4. We also receive support from donations, and fundraising campaigns aimed at sustaining the initiative.
Beneficiaries
“LERSA has successfully reintegrated 12 children into schools, paying their tuition fee, providing them with educational materials, and support to ensure they remain in school and excel academically.
“We identify beneficiaries through: community outreach, referrals from individuals, and community leaders.
“We collaborate with schools to track children who have dropped out of school as we directly involve LERSA members who report cases within their neighborhoods.
Experiences
“We started with the Abraham Adesanya axis as our pilot study, and at first, it was quite challenging to identify those who truly needed this support during our community outreach and data collection phase. Through constant engagement with residents and community leaders, we were able to pinpoint the children most in need of educational assistance.
“After that, securing financial support and finding schools willing to partner with us proved difficult. However, with persistence, strategic networking, and advocacy, we eventually gained the backing of sponsors and educational institutions that shared our vision. This initial experience reinforced the importance of collaboration and resilience in driving sustainable impact.
“The Out-of-School initiative follows a structured approach:
Identification & Assessment
“We locate out-of-school children, assess their needs, and determine the best support plan.
School Enrollment & Support
“We enroll children in partner schools and provide essential learning materials.
Monitoring and Continuous Evaluation
” We monitor and periodically access the children to ensure that they are coping academically.
Sustainability & Skill Development
“In addition to academics, we introduced vocational training and digital literacy programs to equip beneficiaries with long-term skills.”
They called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the initiative.
