Concerned about the rising number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of the DOTS project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming the education sector.
The project, which stands for Data Repository, Out-of-School Children’s Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition, seeks to address the lack of coordinated and authentic data in the education sector.
According to the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the DOTS project will enable the Federal Government to track student progress, identify areas of intervention, and provide targeted support to out-of-school children, girls, and those with specific learning disabilities. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new National Examinations Council (NECO) offices in Shabu, Nasarawa State, Sununu emphasized the importance of education in developing Nigeria’s human capital.
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President Tinubu believes that the over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria represent a potential source of social unrest and a hindrance to the country’s development. He is committed to ensuring that these children receive proper education and skills to become self-sufficient and relevant in society.
The minister commended the governors of Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Lagos, and Rivers States for their support to the education sector, and expressed confidence that the new NECO offices will enhance the examination body’s services to the Nigerian people.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, praised the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructural development in the education sector, stating that the new offices will serve as beacons of excellence in examination administration. He envisioned a future where NECO leverages technology and innovation to improve the quality and accessibility of its services.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other parts of the country, including the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting federal government initiatives in the education sector.
