There are 18.3 million out-of-school children in Nigeria — UNICEF

There are at least 18.3 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In a press statement by Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, “Systemic racism and discrimination put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime”.

The organisation also expressed sadness that the high number of children attending school are not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their future.

It identified protection of the rights of every child irrespective of his or her background, as the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and unjust world for everyone.

Affirming that “this hurts us all” UNICEF urged each and every individual as well as organizations to work round the clock to protect the rights of every child.

According to the statement “discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood.”