Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lamented the over 14 million out of school children in Nigeria, warning that millions of children without formal education poses danger to a nation.
Obasanjo identified lack of formal education and stagnated development as some of the biggest problems plaguing the country.
Obasanjo made this known at the weekend while speaking as Chairman at the second convocation ceremony of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, according to a release by Cletus Ilobanafor, the Media Consultant to the university.
Obasanjo said about 14million children who ought to be in school are out on the streets and that this should be a source of worry as the population is more than some African countries.
He said: “We have 14million children that should be in school and are not in school; that’s more than the population of many African countries.”
He then encouraged the graduating students to remain focused in spite of the difficulties in Nigeria, adding that there are still opportunities out there to be explored that could make them great in life.
Also, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, congratulating the institution on the 2nd convocation, said Chrisland is needed to produce manpower to address some of the country’s challenges.
Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, also applauded the efforts of the university Management to ensure that the convocation held, saying that “the year 2020 has been challenging for all of us but through it all, you have put together a e ceremony. I say well done and I have the assurance that you will continue to lift this banner of excellence”.
The university Vice Chancellor, Prof Chinedum Babalola, lauded the 28 graduands for being awarded with Bachelor degrees and professional certificates in entrepreneurship, adding that they have been equipped with skills for self-employment.
Prof Babalola said that among the 28 graduates, five of them, who are all females, made First Class while Folashade Kikelomo Mary, with 4.80 CGPA, from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, emerged as the overall best graduating students.
Prof Babalola added that the university had also instilled in the students entrepreneurial skills that would turn them into job creators and not job seekers.
