Tinubu reaffirms commitment to education of Nigerian children

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the education of Nigerian children.

The President reiterated this at a meeting with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, in Paris.

Tinubu said that he would reduce the number of out-of-school children through innovative return-to-class initiatives and skills development programmes.

Tinubu highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to create a supportive framework that would ensure school-age children re-entered classrooms, emphasising the role of motivation and skill acquisition in this initiative.

“In order to bridge the gap for some who are of age, and have been out of school for a while, we will encourage skills development,” the President added.

Accompanied by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, the President informed President Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, that Nigeria’s developmental potential hinged on a well-educated populace.

“The insecurity in some parts of the country makes it hard for children to return to school, but we are gradually re-populating the classrooms. We need skills development to bridge the gaps,” he stated.

Tinubu highlighted the notable progress in enhancing security across Nigeria by employing “kinetic” strategies as part of the peace-building process, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement.

“With some more efforts, we will be able to get some level of stability.

“We had a very good harvest this year. And as soon as more farmers can go back to the farm, we will have more stability in harvest and supply,” Tinubu said.

In response, Macron acknowledged Nigeria’s vast growth potential and the importance of investing in educational initiatives.

He reflected on his formative experiences during a six-month internship at the French Embassy in Nigeria, including visits to Lagos and Kano.

Macron and his wife Brigitte expressed gratitude to Tinubu and his wife Oluremi for the State Visit, promising to elevate the France-Nigeria partnership to new heights.