The Arewa Youth Advancement Forum (AYAF) has called on the Nigerian government to take urgent and deliberate action toward fixing the country’s ailing educational sector.
AYAF National President, Comrade Mukhtar Sagir Dambatta, told journalists in Abuja on Monday that the continuous neglect of the education sector is a threat to the nation’s future, especially in Northern Nigeria where access to quality education remains limited.
According to Dambatta: “We are deeply concerned about the state of our schools – dilapidated structures, lack of trained teachers, inadequate learning materials, and rising dropout rates.
“Education is the backbone of national development. Without urgent intervention, we risk producing a generation unprepared for the challenges of tomorrow.”
The AYAF leader urged the federal government to build more schools across underserved communities, especially in rural areas, and ensure they are adequately equipped.
He also called for the recruitment and training of qualified teachers, improved budgetary allocation to education, and the introduction of policies that prioritize youth education and skill acquisition.
A statement on the Press Conference by AYAF Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sadiq Sadiq Umar, said that the group further pledged its commitment to partnering with government agencies and development partners to promote education advocacy and community sensitization programmes.
“The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. If we fail to educate them now, we have failed the future,” Dambatta concluded.
The forum reiterated its resolve to continue holding leaders accountable and championing the rights and welfare of Nigerian youth.