Parents keeping children out of school risk arrest – Soludo

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared that denying children access to education amounts to a criminal act, warning that parents who keep their children out of school in Anambra State risk arrest and prosecution.

The governor spoke on Wednesday in Awka during the 2026 Children’s Day celebration themed, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”

Soludo said the state government would begin full enforcement of its zero-tolerance policy against out-of-school children, especially with the free education policy already in place across the state.

According to him, no child in Anambra should be seen roaming the streets, begging or hawking during school hours when education is freely available.

“We will commence full enforcement. If we grab any child within school hours, we will criminalise it for the parents,” the governor said.

“We will arrest the parents and lock them up for a few days and insist the child goes to school. For me, it is criminal to deny any child education, especially now that we have free education.”

Soludo made the remarks while responding to a six-point demand presented by the Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, Victory Ekwunife.

The governor explained that under the state’s reforms, parents and guardians would bear responsibility for children found loitering during school hours.

“As part of our reforms, the punishment will lie with the parents. If a parent spends a few days with enforcement agencies, he or she will be compelled to send the child to school,” he added.

Soludo said Anambra currently records one of the lowest rates of out-of-school children in Nigeria and expressed the determination of his administration to reduce the figure to zero.

“The last UNESCO figure, which we believe is outdated because it came before the free education policy, put Anambra at 2.9 per cent. Some states have over 60 per cent, but our target is to drive it to zero,” he stated.

The governor also pledged to provide land for the establishment of a Juvenile Correctional Centre in the state, stressing the need to separate child offenders from adult detainees.

“Putting child offenders in the same cell with adults is not right. We need a separate facility for them,” he said.

He further assured that the state government would strengthen inclusive education for persons living with disabilities and establish a free toll-line desk for abused children.

Earlier, Soludo delivered the Children’s Day message of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasising that Nigeria’s future depends largely on the choices made for children today.

“Every Nigerian child deserves a sense of belonging regardless of background, gender or physical ability. Inclusion must remain the moral foundation of national development,” he said.

Also speaking, Anambra Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Esther Onyekesi, commended the governor’s wife, Dr Nonye Soludo, for her contributions to child welfare through her Healthy Living Initiative.

According to her, the initiative has improved the nutrition, wellbeing and welfare of children across the state.

Onyekesi added that the ministry remained committed to combating child abuse, trafficking, child labour and street hawking through collaboration with relevant agencies and targeted interventions.

She also urged children to remain focused and avoid negative influences capable of derailing their future aspirations.

“You are intelligent, creative, resilient and full of promise. Anambra State is counting on you to become future leaders, innovators and responsible citizens,” she said.

The Children’s Day celebration featured march-pasts by schools and cultural presentations by children’s groups from different parts of the state.