WANEP, Others brainstorm ways of addressing the dangers of increasing numbers of out of school children in Lagos

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Conflict Management and Peace-building experts on Tuesday May 20th, 2025 warned that the increasing numbers of out of school children in Lagos state have assumed a worrisome dimension and called on the state government to urgently engage stakeholders on how to put measures in place to address the menace.

They spoke at a one - day meeting on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), where they inaugurated a Steering Committee in Lagos State to work together in putting forward   Action Plans towards Preventing violent Extremism.

Speakers identified the influx of young adults and children from states across Nigeria into Lagos and those within the state without parental care and guidance as a leading factor that has seen the large number of children on the streets of the commercial city, who go about either engage in begging for arms and carrying out nefarious activities that constitute dangers to residents.

In her remarks, National Network Coordinator, West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), Chief Dr Bridget Osakwe said the organisation has identified violence extremism as an emerging manmade phenomenon and decided to work with major stakeholders on how to nip it before it results into extreme violent conflicts in Lagos state.

According to her, the causes of violent extremism ranges from exclusion and marginalization, lack of access to social services such as education, health care, justice, security, livelihoods, and the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect their lives.

Others include lack of opportunities, grievances with the state, murder or arrest of a family member and friend, human right abuses, weak family structures, growing number of children without adequate parental guidance and poor governance and widespread corruption.

The WANEP boss said “the country is impacted by violent extremism and terrorism enough and we must ensure that a state like Lagos, a mini-Nigeria is saved from such dangerous development, hence our commitment to this project.”

The Head of Programs WANEP Nigeria Mrs. Patience Ikpeh Obaulo during the program, noted that Nigeria ranks sixth in the Global Terrorism Index 2025 in this regard, active collaboration between the state and non- state actors has become necessary to ensure that a state like Lagos, a mini-Nigeria is saved from the escalation of this menace. Hence WANEP Nigeria commitment to the project

On her part, Executive Director, Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative, Mrs. Kate Duru advised the Lagos state government to consider tax incentives for vulnerable families who can no longer send their wards to school following the excruciating economic hardship in the country just the speakers commended the state for security measures they have taken so far to ensure the safety of the citizens.

They identified the causes of violent extremism and outlined strategies to address it and the recruitment processes for would be volunteers in the prevention activities.

The project, championed by Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) said it aimed to foster coordination in Civil Society PCVE interventions, and enhance collaborations between government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community Actors, and other non-State Actors to prevent and Counter Violent Extremism in Nigeria.

It said it objective among others include enhancing the awareness of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) amongst civil society organizations (CSOs) and relevant stakeholders in Nigeria, as well as to strengthen the capacities of state and non-state actors to address the causes and drivers of radicalization in communities.

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