A Nigerian non-governmental organisation known as LA-IRIS Human Development Initiatives has introduced a new educational support platform designed to return out-of-school children in northern Nigeria to formal learning structures. The unveiling took place on Saturday at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Plateau State, a centre known across West Africa for training senior public policy leaders.
Okay News reports that the organisation said the initiative was developed in response to the growing number of children who have been pushed out of the school system due to insecurity, poverty, displacement, cultural pressures, and various forms of community disruption across northern Nigeria.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in its 2025 global assessment, Nigeria accounts for fifteen per cent of the world’s out-of-school children. The report also states that 7.8 million people in the country currently need urgent humanitarian assistance, while 3.7 million individuals remain internally displaced as a result of armed violence, climate-related disasters, and ongoing instability.
Speaking during the event, Executive Director of LA-IRIS Human Development Initiatives, Darong Mancha, said the newly introduced platform is intended to provide quality learning opportunities and long-term empowerment for children who have fallen behind.
“We must acknowledge that these are not just numbers, but empirical reports that require very urgent attention.
We are gathered here today for the vision casting of La-Iris Human Development Initiatives to see how we can supplement other existing human efforts… in ameliorating the plight of the vulnerable in society,” he said.
Mancha added that the organisation plans to collaborate closely with local communities, government institutions, and other stakeholders to identify children who are out of school and provide them with a pathway back into education or vocational training. He further stated that, “Between now and September 2026, the organisation intends to raise scholarships and increase the profiling of 500 vulnerable and indigent out-of-school children in the north and other parts of Nigerian society.”
Delivering a keynote address, respected Nigerian cleric and scholar Professor Yusuf Turaki, who was represented by Dr. Yakubu Samuel, urged privileged individuals, institutions, and community actors to invest more in supporting the education of disadvantaged children. According to him, “It is unfortunate that our schools are closed. Some children are out of school not because of insecurity… but because they have been told that education is a scam.
We need to support every child in education… We need to establish a community-based education support system.”
The Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs. Juliet Horace-Nwabunweng, restated the group’s readiness to work alongside local actors to ensure that vulnerable children have access to learning and vocational alternatives that can enable them to build sustainable futures.
Also speaking at the event, former governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Chris Bature, appealed to parents, guardians, and community leaders to embrace the initiative, emphasising that access to learning remains a fundamental right for every child regardless of background or circumstance.
The unveiling ceremony brought together representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, traditional authorities, academic communities, and political groups. Many of them pledged institutional backing and partnership to ensure the success of the initiative.
Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity across several northern regions. Banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and extremist violence have worsened humanitarian challenges, making education access increasingly difficult for millions of children.
