ORIGINALLY WRITTEN: SEPTEMBER 28, 2018.

By: Anne Noah

“The global primary out-of-school rate has remained stubbornly at 9% for eight years in a row. As education and poverty are dynamic phenomena with strong inter-generational effects, failure to act now jeopardizes the future of several generations.”   -The Many Faces of Exclusion Save the Children 2018

2017 was recorded to be the safest year for air travel with no plane crashes. While I am happy about our progress in the aviation industry, this happiness is short-lived. I bear in mind several crashes that have taken place quietly, across several schools in the country. According to UNICEF, the number of teachers killed by Boko Haram has escalated to a shocking number of 2,295 with 19,000 displaced children. Let’s assume the Boko Airline was an MD83 aircraft, which has a capacity of 172 passengers. We have had 13 plane crashes with no survivors.

While growing a thick skin and finding quick ways to laugh and move on seems like the best option these days, we can’t afford to shut out the truth; the future of Nigeria is under serious attack. Given that today’s students will be tomorrow’s workers and leaders, the human capital lost because of these attacks seriously threatens development.

More than 1,000 children have been abducted and 1,400 schools destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists since 2013. Another dangerous group of killers, the Fulani herdsmen, have forced 80,450 children out of school and into IDP camps. The Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor disclosed this shocking number as the total amount of children counted in the last head count that took place in 8 IDP(Internally Displaced People) camps earlier this year.

Save The Children recently published their second annual End of Childhood Index, in which they took a long, hard look at the events that rob children of their childhoods and prevent them from reaching their full potential. According to the index, the world is now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record, with 20 people newly displaced every minute as a result of conflict or persecution. By the end of 2016, more than 65 million people around the world had been forcibly displaced from their homes, including an estimated 28 million children.

The Index compared the latest data for 175 countries and assessed where the most and fewest children are missing out on childhood. The scores for countries were calculated on a scale of 1 to 1,000. The scores measure the extent to which children in each country experience “childhood enders” such as death, chronic malnutrition, being out of school and being forced into adult roles of work, marriage and motherhood; These enders erode childhood. Countries with higher scores do a better job of protecting childhoods.

Nigeria ranked 169th among countries surveyed, scoring 513. Here is a summary of the top and bottom 10.

Well, that was depressing, for a nation whose people love to tell their children that they were the first in class 169 is quite hard to swallow. But there’s still hope. Nigeria still has a chance, she has you and I. Yes you, here are some things you can do to help:

1. Volunteer!- When it comes to social impact initiatives there’s no such thing as too much help, there will always be a need for extra hands. If you can afford to take out some time to help out then in the name of huge puppy eyes and all that is cute in the world please do!
2. Adopt a child- For people who can’t afford to show up at the IDPs physically, this is a great way to still show constant support. There are several initiatives which give the opportunity for adoption, one of my favourites is the Young Shapers Club. This is an initiative solely focused on internally displaced, vulnerable children. Their aim is to serve as a bridge, connecting sponsors with the children while they mentor and enrol them in schools around them.
3. Equip the children with resources they need to succeed- Over time it has been a constant struggle to educate the children in these IDP camps due to the inadequate of amount teachers in the camp. One organization that has my utmost respect is Mavis Education. The “support a community bundle” which can be seen in this link, provides quality basic education to 5 children for 3 years (Primary 1- 3) for N71,000. These talking books enable children to learn by themselves in small groups (maximum of 5) where participation and collaboration enhance learning outcomes.
4. Educate yourself!- Informed followership demands efficient leadership, I implore us all to educate ourselves about elections, leadership and our civic responsibilities. But most importantly, GO OUT AND GET YOUR PERMANENT VOTERS CARD, the next four years of leadership is in our hands.

Until the government takes serious steps to curb this crisis, these terrorists will find their way into every state with a new name every time but with the same goal- To drag Nigeria’s progress on achieving equal access to education eons behind.

We must hold them accountable, if we look away and do nothing then we will all have ourselves to blame for the beginning of the end of Nigeria. Don’t lose hope, don’t give up on Nigeria. Slowly but surely we will find our way to the end of the tunnel.

I believe in Nigeria, do you?