Richard Olakunle, the proprietor of Impeccable Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, has called on government at all levels to support out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Mr Olakunle, who made the call in Ilorin on Saturday, said out-of-school children should be supported and special attention paid to them to offer them a future.

“Government must include the out-of-school children in their plans. They can also enrol them for entrepreneurship training and skills acquisition programmes.

“They need to be encouraged and not to be discouraged from trying. Enrol them in skills centres for them to be independent and not constitute a nuisance to society.

“Most of the children are intelligent, but their parents cannot afford their school fees. The government must save them from becoming a burden on society.

“Take them from the streets and enrol them in schools or skills centres for a safer society before they become idle. Giving them food is not enough. Give them a future,” he said.

The proprietor also called on private individuals and NGO’s to similarly invest in out-of-school children, to provide them with a better future.

(NAN)