• Nigeria is abysmally behind target – Bill & Melinda Gate

By Emmanuel Elebeke &  Fortune Eromosele – ABUJA 

The National Economic Summit Group, NESG, has said that out of the 130 million Nigerians wallowing in multidimensional poverty, 80million are children.

NESG’s Chief Executive Officer designate, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, stated this on the sideline of the just concluded 29^th edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit, NES#29, in Abuja.

He stated: “Some children are left in Multidimensional poverty and over 20million out of school. If we continue to leave that population in that situation, it means we are leaving children well being and have left them unprepared for the future.

He stated: “We need to see the Federal Government take ownership of this by coordinating the sub-national governments so as to be on the same page in tackling the problem nationwide.”

The Founder of Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, said what we need to address the high rate of poverty and out of school children menace is to escalate awareness at grassroots level.

“Many of them do not understand why people live in poverty. We need to give incentives to attract children to school and make them change their mindsets.

“Lots of work needs to be done in terms of advocacy. Also, the policy makers need to come up  with policies that would address these menace.”

Speaking on the issue of poverty in Nigeria Senior Program Officer at Bill Gate & Melinda Foundation, Dr. Shima Aladeshawe, pointed out that Nigeria is abysmally behind the 2030 target.

“We need to get our target right. Government must rethink incentivising the sub-nationals to key into the agenda.

“Government of the day must galvanise every one and come up with strategies to solve the problem now.”

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced plans to review and enhance the curriculum for basic schools in the country to develop the creative skills of children and prepare them for future innovation.

Vanguard News