A Non-Governmental Organization, One Youth Global, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors to take decisive action in revamping Nigeria’s failing education sector and addressing the alarming number of out-of-school children, estimated at over 20 million.
The call was made by the President of the organization, Mr. Uchechukwu Agbo, during a press briefing at the grand finale of the Spark Nation national debate and quiz competition, held at the Osborne Hotel in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, over the weekend.
Agbo decried the deteriorating conditions of primary and secondary education across the country and stressed the need for immediate intervention from both federal and state governments to rescue the sector.
“We are worried about the deteriorating state of federal and state-owned schools in Nigeria. Our children are being denied quality education, and that’s unacceptable. We urge the government to act boldly and decisively,” Agbo stated.
The Spark Nation national competition, organized by One Youth Global in partnership with Professor Benjamin Voth of Southern Methodist University, USA, brought together over 250 students from different states including Lagos, Adamawa, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers.
According to the organizers, the event aimed to promote critical thinking, leadership, and public speaking among secondary school students, while also spotlighting the pressing challenges confronting the nation’s education system.
Mr. Samson Amulu, Boot Camp Director of the initiative, explained that the seven-day programme started on June 15 and featured outreach visits to all 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State. He noted that the competition had evolved into a national platform for youth engagement in intellectual discourse.
"The state of our school children is worrisome. UNICEF estimates that over 20 million Nigerian children are currently out of school. This programme is our way of contributing to solutions by building confidence, knowledge, and skills among our youths,” Amulu said.
The competition concluded with Akin Oluwa Olajolo, an SS1 student from Wellspring College, Lagos, emerging as the winner of the debate segment with 85 points, followed closely by Michelle Emeka-Nwuke of CSMT, Abakaliki, who scored 82 points.
Winners of both the debate and quiz categories were awarded one million naira each in scholarships and an opportunity to travel to California, USA, for further educational exposure.
Also speaking at the event, education advocate Chinedu Ugbah emphasized the need for improved welfare for teachers, noting that poor remuneration was a key factor behind declining educational standards.
“Many teachers are underpaid and demotivated. As a result, the quality of teaching suffers. Sadly, students are losing faith in the system, with some now saying ‘education is a scam’ because they see graduates without jobs,” Ugbah lamented.
The event highlighted the growing concern among stakeholders about the future of education in Nigeria and the urgent need for policies that will prioritize access, quality, and innovation in the sector.
