The Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria(LiPAN), Rivers State Chapter, has decried the increasingly rate of out- of- school children in Nigeria, insisting that education remains the nation’s most stable and purpose-driven sector capable of rescuing the country from poverty, insecurity and moral collapse.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt on government negligence of the sector and other educational issues, State Chairperson of the Association and Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Prof Ibiere Ken- Maduako warned that the future of Nigeria hangs dangerously in the balance if millions of vulnerable children continue to remain outside the four walls of the classroom.
Prof. Ken- Maduako maintained that despite economic hardship, political instability and rising insecurity, education still stands as the “greatest pillar of hope and national survival”.
She described the growing number of children roaming the streets, markets, and motor parks instead of attending school as “a national emergency demanding urgent action”.
“Every child carrying pure water on the streets instead of school bags represents a failure of leadership and collective responsibility”, she declared emotionally.
Prof. Ibiere Ken- Maduako lamented that poverty, broken homes, insecurity, child labour, and weak educational funding have created a dangerous army of neglected children vulnerable to crime, drug abuse, trafficking and extremism.
According to her, no country can genuinely claim development when its children are denied access to quality education.
“Education is not a luxury, it is the oxygen of civilization. A nation that neglects education digs the grave of its own future”, she stated.
The erudite scholar stressed that literacy remains the most powerful weapon against ignorance, unemployment and social instability.
Ibiere Ken- Maduako insisted that Nigeria’s rising insecurity and youth restiveness cannot be separated from the increasing neglect of education and social welfare systems.
She warned that if urgent investments are not made toward inclusive education, Nigeria risks breeding another generation trapped in hopelessness and anger.
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The LiPAN boss, however, described the advocacy as timely, especially as many Nigerian families struggle under harsh economic realities that have pushed thousands of children out of school.
The academic called on the federal and state governments, international organizations, traditional rulers, churches, and wealthy Nigerians, to unite in confronting the educational crisis before it degenerates further.
“Books must replace begging bowls. Classrooms must replace street corners. Pens must replace instruments of violence”, Prof. Ibiere Ken- Maduako declared.
She further appealed for free and basic education, improved teachers’ welfare, scholarship interventions and stronger monitoring systems to ensure no child is denied access to learning opportunities.
The University don also advocated community literacy programmes targeted at rural settlements and riverine communities where educational access remains poor.
Prof. Ibiere Ken- Maduako agreed that meaningful national transformation cannot happen without deliberate investment in human capital development.
She described education as “the bridge between poverty and possibility”, insisting that every Nigerian child deserves the right to dream, learn, and succeed regardless of social background.
