Worried about the high rate of Out of School children in the Northern Nigeria, Sultanate Council of Sokoto, under the leadership of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has concluded arrangement to convene a summit to address the problem.
This was disclosed in Kaduna on Wednesday, at the end of two days planning committee meeting, inaugurated by the Sultan.
Addressing newsmen, the Emir of Argungu and Coordinator, Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad, said the essence of the planned conference is to find a lasting solution to the issue of out of school children which has bedeviled the region.
According to him, Northern Nigeria children forms the highest number of the over 10 million out of school children in the country which calls for concern by traditional leaders in the country.
“This meeting was put together by his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, UNICEF and UBEC, to plan Northern Nigeria conference on out of school children, which is a huge problem in this region, it is a tripartite agreement between the three stakeholders and the aim is to get the traditional leaders in the north to drive the campaign to see whatever the can put together to reduced out of school children in Northern Nigeria within the shortest possible time.
“And this committee is charged with the responsibility of putting together, a conference to discuss it and also to define the way forward after the conference. We have set up three committees; one to deal with the mobilization of stakeholders to participate and also to prepare and put in place everything that is needed at the venue.
“The second committee is to plan the technical aspect of it, and panel discussion and every other things that are required technically. And the third committee is that of media and publicity, to bring onboard, all necessary media outlets to give us publicity.”
The Emir, added that, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Ministers, Lawmakers and every other relevant stakeholders are among the about 300 participants expected at the conference.
“We are also inviting our businessmen who can contribute financially. The conference is not just going to be a talk shop, but it will also reach certain decision that I believe can mitigate the problem. And we are inviting all our religious leaders, political leaders, it is cutting across every aspect of the society.
