An Ogun state based psychologist, Damilola Onebamhoin, has bemoaned the rising number of out of school children, charging the federal and state government to encourage literacy while looking into the activities and welfare of children in rural communities.

Onebamhoin, while admitting the government’s effort in tackling the out of school menace, stated that it must not

forget children, particularly those living and schooling in underserved communities.

She appealed that in order to accomplish the SDG 4 goal, where every child is expected to have at least a basic kind of education, all children must be supported, encouraged and given hope.

The child counsellor spoke on Tuesday, during a back to school outreach held for not less 400 primary and secondary school students selected from Elekuro village, Tepona, Onibotuje, Lemo, Akakun, Kelewu, Elekuro, Molufirin, and Wasimi village all in the Ewekoro Local government area of Ogun State

He said, ” We have seen people in this community who can’t go back to school. We don’t want these children to be hopeless, we must give them hope. Our aim is to support the SDG 4 goal where every child should have at least a basic kind of education.

“We can’t focus on children in urban communities and leave the children in the villages. They also need to be encouraged to go back to school. We hope the government can shine the light by encouraging literacy in underserved communities”.

On his part, the Capon, Ash Montana Deck , National Association of Seadogs, Omitogun Adeyemi, called for a just and egalitarian society that is free from discrimination against colour, sex and ethnic group.

Adeyemi stressed that all children must be encouraged back to school, urging the strong to protect the weak, the rich to protect the poor, and the informed to give to the non informed.

Nigerian govt charged to tackle out of school children menace in rural communities