Out-of-school children threaten Nigeria’s future, firm warns

A. P. MCNISI Limited has warned that Nigeria risks facing serious economic and security challenges if the growing population of out-of-school and undereducated children is not urgently addressed.

The company, in a statement on Saturday by its Chief Information Officer, Abdulmuiz Oshodi titled “A Looming Danger: Why Nigeria Cannot Afford an Uneducated Generation,” described the country’s rising number of out-of-school children as a national crisis capable of undermining economic growth, industrialisation and social stability.

It said Nigeria’s youthful population remained its greatest asset but warned that failing to invest in education could transform that strength into a major vulnerability.

According to the firm, millions of young Nigerians lack access to quality education, vocational training and opportunities needed to become productive adults, thereby fuelling poverty, unemployment, crime and social unrest.

It stated, “Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world. Millions of young people grow up without access to consistent schooling, vocational training, or a clear path toward productive adulthood.

“An uneducated youth population feeds cycles of poverty, weakens the workforce a growing economy depends on, and creates fertile ground for crime, exploitation, and unrest.”

The company described the challenge as more than a humanitarian concern, insisting that it had become an economic and national security issue requiring urgent intervention from both the public and private sectors.

It, however, commended the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund as a significant step towards expanding access to higher education.

The firm noted that NELFUND, established in 2024, had removed financial barriers for many students by providing interest-free loans covering tuition and upkeep, with repayment beginning only after beneficiaries secure employment.

It added that by mid-2026, the scheme had disbursed more than N300bn to over 1.6 million students across public tertiary institutions nationwide.

“A. P. MCNISI Limited sees NELFUND as proof of concept: that when the right structures are put in place, Nigeria’s youth respond. The demand is there. The talent is there. What has often been missing is the sustained investment to unlock it,” the statement read.

The company, however, argued that the education loan scheme alone could not address the wider challenge of millions of children who never make it to tertiary institutions because of poverty, homelessness and lack of access to basic education.

It called on private organisations to complement government efforts by investing in feeding programmes, shelter, foundational education, scholarships and vocational development through partnerships with non-governmental organisations.

The firm said it had begun supporting vulnerable children through NGO partnerships by providing feeding, housing and educational support while also creating entry-level employment opportunities for young people leaving such programmes.

“We do not see this as charity in the traditional sense. We see it as investment — in the workforce we will need, the customers our economy will depend on, and the stability our communities require to thrive,” it stated.

The company urged government, the private sector and civil society organisations to intensify collaboration in addressing the education crisis, warning that every year of delayed action would increase the burden on future generations.

It added that while the danger posed by the growing number of out-of-school children was real, the opportunity to reverse the trend still existed through sustained investment and coordinated action.