Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria’s 24 million out-of-school children are a “time bomb” vulnerable to recruitment by Boko Haram. Speaking at the launch of the Bakhita ICT Centre in Sokoto on Tuesday, he urged leaders to prioritize education, empowerment, and employment to avert a crisis. “You don’t need an oracle to know they will become the recruiting ground for the Boko Haram of tomorrow,” he said.
Northern Nigeria, home to over 10 million of these children, many in the Almajiri system, faces acute education and poverty challenges, worsened by banditry and school abductions. Obasanjo cautioned that neglecting this issue could lead to a future where “the Boko Haram of today will be child’s play.”
The Bakhita ICT Centre, equipped with 250 laptops and 50 tablets, was established by Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah with support from philanthropist Aare Afe Babalola. It aims to provide digital skills and vocational training to youth. Kukah called on northern leaders to reject poverty as inevitable, noting, “Among the almajiri, there could be an Albert Einstein.” He stressed unity, saying, “Mosquitoes don’t discriminate—they bite everyone, Muslim or Christian. We must work together.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, echoed this, rejecting divisive religious narratives. “Here we are, Christians and Muslims praying side by side to open this centre. Why don’t people talk about that?” he asked, emphasizing that hunger and sickness affect all, and solutions require collective effort.
The event, attended by traditional rulers, clerics, politicians, and youths, showcased cultural performances celebrating Nigeria’s unity.
