Group Launches Programme to Return Crisis-affected Children to School in Plateau

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Thousands of children displaced by repeated violent conflicts across the North-east, North-west and Middle Belt continue to face the long-term consequences of disrupted education, with Plateau State still living with the impact of the 2001 crises.

In an effort to restore learning opportunities, La Iris Human Development Initiative, a Christian non-governmental organisation has launched a programme aimed at returning 500 displaced children aged 5 to 17 back to school right from primary to tertiary institution. 

The initiative, inaugurated in Jos, is built on research driven strategies to address the social, ethnic and ethno-religious factors contributing to the growing number of out-of-school children.

Executive Director of La Iris, Rev. Mancha Darong, said the project was borne out of a burden awakened during the 2001 Jos crises, and that the organisation’s commitment has continued to evolve. 

He described Nigeria’s displacement crisis as severe, noting that statistical reports reflect reality. “Nigeria is faced with a very serious humanitarian crisis at the moment. You have so many people displaced from the northwest, northeast, the middle belt. Whether by natural disaster or man-made issues, the numbers are empirics. What the UN is saying about the statistics of the number of IDPs we have in Nigeria is the truth.”

Rev. Darong explained that the organisation’s mission goes beyond education alone. “Our vision is to have a holistic mission drive. We want to see where people’s lives are affected, particularly in the area of peacebuilding. We want to see how we have religious harmony in the country amongst the various religions in Nigeria. And then we are also looking at how we would advocate for the vulnerable, also to educate the vulnerable as well.”

He added that La Iris is expanding its efforts into environmental and health issues. “We are also looking at eco-friendly issues in the country, looking at health issues. We want to give it a paradigm approach where we would face life squarely. No aspect of life will be left lagging behind.”

Responding to concerns about public distrust of NGOs, he said La Iris intends to rebuild confidence through consistency and transparency. “Let passion be our drive, and then integrity the platform on which we thrive. If those two are there, we are good to go.”

He recalled that the organisation’s work started quietly and gradually. “We started this with the kids since 2017. We started with one person, then two, then three, and today we are running in hundreds. The partners we have since 2017, we have been working together with them. There is a level of transparency, and I think that’s what we may do differently.”

Delivering a keynote address, Prof. Yakubu Samuel Nzee,  said the initiative reflects both a social and theological responsibility. He reminded participants that children hold a central place in Christian teaching, noting that “the Lord Jesus Christ has the child at heart,” and quoting scripture: “Let these little ones come to me, for the kingdom of God is for such as these.”

He described returning crisis-affected children to school as “a matter of justice, human dignity and Christian responsibility,” stressing that many were forced out of school due to conflict, insecurity or poverty.

Nzee lamented the erosion of communal responsibility in the society, once central to child upbringing under indigenous values, he said. “For IRIS to succeed in bringing 500 or more children back to school, we need networks and that is why we are gathered here.”

He urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities to revive cultural and moral responsibilities that prioritise the wellbeing of every child. He also cautioned against the spread of messages that undermine the value of education.