By Adeola Ogunlade
Youth Advocate for Change (YAFC), through its Slum to Classroom Initiative has concluded plans to stage its one day interactive forum on Advancing Inclusive Education in Lagos Slum Communities holding on the 10th of May at the Akinwunmi Youth Development Centre, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos.
Tagged: Improving Access to Quality Education in Informal Settlements will bring together school owners, government officials, private sector players, civil society groups and young people living in slums communities in Lagos.
In a statement by the Team Lead, YAFC, Adeola Ogunlade, said the programme is aimed at enhancing inter-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships toward ensuring that marginalised children in slum communities are not left behind in the effort toward achieving inclusive and qualitative education for all children irrespective of their location, gender, and socio-economic challenges.
He noted that Lagos State is a population of about 21 million people (National Population Commission of Nigeria, 2016). It remains the country’s commercial nerve centre with an annual GDP growth rate of 1.5%. Ironically, it is home to over 100 slums which are challenged by the burden of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, filthy environment, and none or inadequate educational facilities for young people.
Ogunlade stated that although the Lagos State government is improving it’s spending toward teacher training, building new schools, mainstreaming digital technology in public schools, and improving learning outcomes among students, it is evident from research that the impact of government in advancing inclusive educational opportunities for slum dwellers is limited and thus, require more collaboration among all stakeholders for greater impact.
“This conference will help to review the standard of education in slum communities and provide a platform for shared responsibilities among all stakeholders including government, private sector players, school owners, teachers, and community heads for an improvement in the standard of education needed for slum dwellers in the 21st century”, he said.
Among the guest schedule to speak include: Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm
Founding Director, Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Professor Timothy Nubi, Founder/CEO, GOTOCOURSE, Dr Success Ojo, Former South West Director in the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Dr Dada Shonibare, among others.