By Temi Ohakwe, Abuja
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has expressed solidarity with parents of 14 students and others who are still in captivity with bandits & terrorists.
The Minister expressed sadness over the continued abduction of the Federal Government College Birni Yauri, which occurred sometimes last year as he called on all hands to remain on deck for the release of the remaining children.
The Minister stated these in his keynote address at the National campaign on out of school children in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state.
According to Nwajiuba, “my heart and soul are with all Nigerian Children who are still in captivity. I stand with the parents in the circumstance. Govt. Will continue to do all it can to free our children who are being held for what they know nothing about” the Minister reiterated.
The Minister further noted that no Nation can make meaningful progress with a high number of its youths as illiterates.
Nwajiuba maintained that the Federal Ministry of education is determined to ensure that all children of school age who are out of school are returned and retained to complete their Basic and secondary education and possibly transit to tertiary institutions.
The Minister also called on State governments to upscale their efforts in supporting the Federal Government in the task of educating these children, adding that education is a collective responsibility.
In his address , Kebbi state Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government said, the state is fully committed to eradicating the out of School Children phenomenal.
The Gov said Kebbi state has approximately 900,000 out of school children.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Kebbi State SSG representing the State Gov. Atiku Bagudu at the National Campaign on Out Of School in Kebbi State.
