The Benue Government has begun compiling data on out-of-school children as part of efforts to improve child protection and access to education.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Theresa Ikwue, disclosed this during a visit to the management of Modern Market, Makurdi, to unveil the exercise.
Ikwue, represented by the Director of Child Development in the ministry, Mrs Janet Daagba, urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the state government’s free Basic One to Nine education policy and discourage children from street hawking during school hours.
She said accurate data on out-of-school children would help the ministry design appropriate interventions to improve their welfare and ensure access to education.
Receiving the ministry’s team, the Manager of Modern Market, Mr Terhumba Akpelan, pledged the market management’s support for the success of the exercise.
The exercise is expected to provide relevant information for interventions aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving child welfare across the state.
One of the children, Favour Ogbaji, expressed happiness over the initiative.
