The Niger State Government has said it will key into the Federal Government’s At-Risk Children Project (ARC-P) to support more than 72,000 out-of-school children in the state.
Dr Amina Bello, wife of the Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, revealed this while receiving a team on ARC-P led by the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme, Hajiya Maryam Uwais, in Minna, the state capital.
The first lady, who is also the chairperson of Raise Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, also said the state government will make judicious use of the programme to support out-of-school children, not forgetting youths across the state who are battling unemployment.
She concluded by saying the government of Niger State remains committed to supporting out-of-school children to become productive members of society, thus, adequate support will be given to kick off the project.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, had earlier in February, faulted the plan of the Federal Government to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country, describing it as an effort in futility.
Governor Bello made this statement in Minna during the commencement of the national campaign on out-of-school children in the six geopolitical zones of the country, adding that insecurity in some states would make the programme unachievable.
“Whatever is going to be done towards improving enrolment of children in schools, the security situation has to be tackled first.” He stated.