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School In The Street, a non-profit organization committed to educating street-connected children, has commended the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu following his promise to grant scholarships to two out-of-school girls he encountered during school hours.
On Thursday, Sanwo-Olu, who was on his way to an official function, stopped his convoy after he sighted the girls who were on their way to “deliver buckets of peeled beans and pepper” to a vendor. After interrogating them, the governor said he would personally take up the responsibility for their education and offered them scholarships.
Commending the governor’s gesture in a statement signed by its founder, Olakunle Sanni, the NGO said he acted “like a true father who expected his children to be in school at that hour.”
“In a city like Lagos where there is enormous pressure on government to capture and make education accessible for the millions of out of school children most of whom are non-indigenes of Lagos State, it could have been much easy for the governor to pretend not to see these young girls.
“This singular action sends a clear message to all residents of Lagos that on no account or reason would Lagos allow any child to be left out of school. This action also in a way has prevented these children from ever ending up on the street of Lagos,” the statement read in part.
The group, citing Section 15 of the Child Rights Act of Nigeria, noted that it is not enough for Sanwo-Olu to provide scholarship to these two young girls but also go further to ensure that the provisions of the Act is fully implemented to increase the enrolment rate of out-of-school children in schools.
It added, “As a pacesetter and State known for excellence, the Lagos State government should as a matter of need go a step further in declaring FREE education up to senior secondary level for girls as this will enable girls to successfully transition from one level to another without any hindrance especially knowing that we live in a male-dominated society where parents, guardians and members of community often prefer to invest in the education of the boy-child.
“This opportunity should also be extended to many girls who live and work on the streets of Lagos as well as rid the streets of girls who may end up with unwanted pregnancy or prevent them from being subjected to avoidable abuse, exploitation and violence.”
