A non-governmental organisation, LA-IRIS Human Development Initiatives, has unveiled a new platform aimed at reintegrating out-of-school children in northern Nigeria into formal education.
Unveiled on Saturday at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Plateau State, the initiative seeks to tackle rising numbers of children excluded from schooling due to insecurity, poverty, and cultural barriers.
According to UNICEF’s 2025 report, Nigeria accounts for 15% of the world’s out-of-school children, with 7.8 million people requiring urgent humanitarian assistance and 3.7 million internally displaced.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of LA-IRIS, Darong Mancha, said the goal is to provide vulnerable children with quality education and opportunities for empowerment.
“We must acknowledge that these are not just numbers, but empirical reports that require very urgent attention.
“We are gathered here today for the vision casting of La-Iris Human Development Initiatives to see how we can supplement other existing human efforts… in ameliorating the plight of the vulnerable in society,” he said
Mancha noted that the platform will collaborate with communities, government agencies, and stakeholders to identify out-of-school children and support them with education and vocational training.
“Between now and September 2026, the organisation intends to raise scholarships and increase the profiling of 500 vulnerable and indigent out-of-school children in the north and other parts of Nigerian society,” he stated.
Delivering a keynote address, renowned cleric Professor Yusuf Turaki—represented by Dr Yakubu Samuel—called on privileged individuals and institutions to support education for the poor.
“It’s unfortunate that our schools are closed. Some children are out of school not because of insecurity… but because they have been told that education is a scam.
“We need to support every child in education… We need to establish a community-based education support system,” he said.
Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Juliet Horace-Nwabunweng, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to working with local stakeholders to provide education and vocational pathways for vulnerable children.
A former governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Chris Bature, urged parents and communities to embrace the programme, stressing that education remains a fundamental right.
The unveiling drew participants from government agencies, NGOs, traditional institutions, academia, and political groups, all pledging support for the initiative.
Nigeria continues to battle widespread insecurity, with banditry, kidnapping, separatist movements, and communal clashes worsening humanitarian conditions across several regions.
