Why
Northern Nigeria?
Northern Nigeria is the region with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. 60% of the 10.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are in Northern Nigeria. With this number, Nigeria has the highest country population of out-of-school children in the whole world. Girls make up 60% while boys make up 40% of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Practically, it means 1 out of each 5 out-of-school children in the world is in Nigeria. UNICEF rates Nigeria’s 20.1% education accessibility very low.
47.7% (about 94 million people) of Nigeria’s estimated 198 million people live in extreme poverty, and majority of them are in Northern Nigeria, being the poorest region. Because poverty is (one of) the main cause(s) of school drop-out in Northern Nigeria, I-VEED provides financial support to child-victims whose poverty is related to terrorism and ethno-religious crises.
Nigeria is 3rd on top of Global Terrorism Index 2018, after Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost all terrorist activities, ethno-religious crises, and the victims are in Northern Nigeria.
Why
Education?
Education is expensive at all levels in Nigeria: Schools charge school fees, children buy uniforms and school materials. Although junior primary and secondary school level is officially said to be free, the government allows schools to charge school fees for the daily running of their schools. However, for senior secondary school level, it is officially not free, therefore more expensive. Moreover, final exams fees (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, JAMB) are expensive. Since primary school education is affordable to most parents / guardians, I-VEED, therefore, prioritizes secondary school students for its support.
Educational development up to completion of secondary school has the immediate and wider, individual and social benefits to the individual and society at the long run: empowerment, peaceful-co-existence, human dignity, social equity, literacy, hygiene, etc.