7th August 2025, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Governance And Development, Law And Society, Lifestyle
By John Chukwu Anyim

In the discourse on education and national development in Nigeria, much attention has rightly been paid to the plight of the girl-child. However, an equally pressing crisis is unfolding in plain sight the alarming rise in the number of out-of-school boys, particularly in northern Nigeria, but increasingly across the country. If left unaddressed, this trend threatens to become a national catastrophe with long-term consequences for peace, productivity, and prosperity.

A Silent Crisis

According to data from UNICEF and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Nigeria is home to over 10 million out-of-school children, with boys now making up a disturbing share of that figure in many regions. In some states, especially in the South-South and parts of the North-West, school dropout rates among boys are outpacing those of girls.

Several factors contribute to this trend: poverty, peer pressure, lack of parental guidance, child labor, drug abuse, and most recently, the lure of fast money through internet fraud (commonly referred to as Yahoo Yahoo). For many young boys, formal education no longer appears to be a viable route to success. The streets, markets, and even cyberspace offer quicker, if riskier, alternatives.

The Almajiri System and Beyond

In Northern Nigeria, the age-old Almajiri system, originally rooted in Islamic scholarship, has been grossly abused. Millions of boys are sent to far-off communities under the guise of religious education but end up begging on the streets, exposed to hunger, violence, and radicalization.

In the South, many boys drop out to learn trades or join informal apprenticeship systems. While skill acquisition is important, the complete abandonment of formal education limits their access to structured opportunities, civic literacy, and upward mobility.

Implications for Nigeria’s Future

The consequences of a growing population of uneducated and undereducated boys are far-reaching:

1. Increased Crime Rates: Idle hands, especially in urban centers, often gravitate toward crime. Cultism, armed robbery, and cybercrime are on the rise, driven largely by young men with limited education.
2. Widening Gender Gap: While advocacy for girl-child education is yielding results in many areas, neglecting the boy-child risks creating a reversed inequality where girls outpace boys in literacy, access, and employment.
3. National Insecurity: A poorly educated male population is a fertile ground for manipulation, extremism, and political thuggery. The Boko Haram crisis, for instance, found recruits among disillusioned, uneducated youths.
4. Economic Stagnation: Nigeria’s development depends on a skilled and educated workforce. A generation of boys without quality education is a generation unprepared for the demands of a modern economy.

What Can Be Done?

1. Reframe the Narrative: Just as we’ve fought for the girl-child, we must now raise our voices for the boy-child. Government policies, NGO efforts, and public discourse must recognize that both genders face vulnerabilities.
2. Community-Based Education Models: Local apprenticeship programs can be integrated with literacy and numeracy training to ensure that boys who learn trades are not completely cut off from academic knowledge.
3. Parental Engagement: Many boys are left to fend for themselves at a young age. Strengthening parenting education and community parenting models will provide better supervision and guidance.
4. Vocational and Alternative Learning Pathways: Government must revamp technical schools and create pathways for boys who are not inclined toward traditional academics to thrive.
5. Curb Street-Level Influences: Law enforcement, religious institutions, and social media platforms must play a role in reducing the glamorization of crime and “get-rich-quick” lifestyles that draw boys away from school.

Conclusion

Nigeria cannot afford to lose another generation. While educating the girl-child remains essential, ignoring the growing army of out-of-school boys is a recipe for future disaster. A balanced, inclusive approach that ensures no child is left behind boy or girl is the only path to sustainable national development.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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