A ticking time bomb for Nigeria

A lost generation: There is fear that the out-of-school children will be easy ‛bait’ for unscrupulous groups. Many of them take on odd jobs and sell small items and food to help out their families. - AFP

Africa’s most populous country needs to take urgent action to prevent an entire generation of children missing out on education.

BELLO Shehu is a 12-year-old boy. Under a scorching sun, he sells sachets of purified water to motorists caught in traffic jams in northern Nigeria’s largest city, Kano.