The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has pledged his unwavering support to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOSCE) in its national campaign to address the growing issue of out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by a three-member delegation from the Commission to the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, as part of its stakeholder engagement efforts ahead of the pilot phase of its nationwide education programme.
The delegation, which included Mrs. Udegbue Stella, Director of Out-of-School Programmes; Mrs. Samuel Charity, Director of Entrepreneurship; and Miss Aderibigbe Theresa, was warmly received by His Imperial Majesty and Her Regal Majesty, Olori Ambassador Dr. Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi.
The visit followed an earlier letter dated April 10, 2025, formally presented to His Majesty requesting royal support in mobilizing stakeholders across the Southwestern states for the pilot phase of the Commission’s education programme.
In her remarks during the visit, Mrs. Udegbue described the reception at the Ooni’s Palace as exceptionally warm and encouraging.
“We have been visiting royal palaces across the country, but the warmth and genuine hospitality extended to us here are truly unmatched,” she said.
“We are especially grateful to Her Regal Majesty for her invaluable role in facilitating this visit on such short notice. Her unwavering passion for supporting the less privileged particularly young children is deeply inspiring.
“Her Majesty’s heart for the vulnerable and commitment to creating opportunities for those most in need reflect the true spirit of service and royalty.”
She further explained that the programme was inspired by the Executive Secretary’s deep passion for reducing the number of children deprived of formal education in Nigeria.
“The Commission aims to take at least four million children off the streets. Our Executive Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, has been championing similar initiatives even before his current appointment. What we’re doing now is an expansion and formalization of that legacy,” she noted.
Mrs. Udegbue disclosed that the pilot phase had already commenced in Kaduna for the Northern region, while the Ibadan center would serve as the hub for the Southern region, covering the Southwest, Southeast, and South South geopolitical zones.
“The pilot programme in Ibadan, scheduled to take off in first week of May 2025, will train 150 learners from across the Southern zones in various vocational skills over the course of six months in two batches of three months each. This pilot will lay the groundwork for a larger, state-level rollout,” she added.
In his response, His Imperial Majesty commended the efforts of the Commission under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, describing the initiative as noble and timely. He acknowledged the pressing need to tackle the issue of out-of-school children, which he noted has become one of the most significant social challenges in the country today.
He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between government bodies and traditional institutions in ensuring such programmes succeed, especially at the grassroots level. His Majesty reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the initiative and assisting in the mobilization of relevant stakeholders across the Southwest.
“This is a commendable intervention,” the Ooni said. “Education remains the greatest tool for societal transformation. I am fully ready to support this initiative in whatever capacity is required to ensure it reaches and impacts the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities.”
The visit concluded with mutual expressions of appreciation and commitment toward fostering a more inclusive and educated society.
