Former Registrar of the West African Examinations Council, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, has raised concerns over the increasing number of children who are out of school across the country.
He voiced his concern during a dinner held in Lagos on Wednesday to celebrate his 70th birthday, attended by friends and associates.
While addressing the gathering, Uwadiae emphasized the crucial role parents must play in ensuring that their children and wards receive quality education, regardless of the challenges involved.
He pointed out that the growing number of out-of-school children stems from two major factors, financial difficulties faced by parents and a growing disinterest among some children in pursuing education.
He called on families and their children to rise above these obstacles and prioritize education, warning against being influenced by societal vices.
Bemoaning the disturbing trend, Uwadiae revealed that some parents, swayed by the lure of quick wealth, now encourage their children to abandon education for internet fraud, commonly referred to as “Yahoo.”
“If you say education is expensive, try ignorance. You will know that nothing kills like ignorance,” he said.
He shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the depth of the crisis, “I want to cite an example of a family in Benin, Edo State, that brought their child to Lagos to learn a trade. Midway into the skills acquisition, the parents recalled the child home when they saw what his age mates were engaged in Yahoo and were making money.”
Describing education as a cornerstone for national development, Uwadiae criticized the Federal Government for not doing enough to foster educational growth.
He urged the authorities to pay urgent attention to education and reverse its declining fortunes.
“I am calling on the government of Nigeria to urgently prioritise educational growth and development in the country. The government should give it further impetus to arrest its dwindling fortune,” he said. “There is no alternative to education; it is a necessity, it is the foundation for development. It helps citizens to navigate. But unfortunately, we are not doing enough, the government is not doing enough to promote education in the country.”
He further emphasized the importance of adequate planning and funding for the sector, recommending that the government adopt the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s guidelines on budgetary allocation.
“UNESCO recommends that nations allocate 15 to 20 per cent of their budgets to education, emphasising the importance of education as a global common good and human rights,” he added.
Notably, Nigeria’s 2025 education budget of N3.52 trillion constitutes just 7.3 per cent of the total national budget of N49.7 trillion—far below UNESCO’s recommendation.
Uwadiae also lamented how political realities have worsened the status of education, stating, “Sadly, a councillor is now better than a university professor, while a Yahoo Boy boasts of being capable of paying the salary of a lecturer.”
The dinner was also a moment of celebration and tribute, with Professor Adams Onuka, who chaired the occasion, praising Uwadiae’s humility. Olutise Adenipekun, former WAEC Head in Nigeria, hailed him as a boss like no other.
