Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG), in partnership with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), has provided books and other learning materials to children at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) learning centre in Lagos.
The donation was carried out at St Stephen and Benita Tutorials, situated along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, as part of activities to commemorate the International Day of Education.
According to the organisers, the initiative was aimed at highlighting ongoing gaps in access to education in Nigeria, especially among displaced and vulnerable children.
They explained that many children residing in IDP settlements continue to experience challenges in accessing basic education due to displacement, poverty and inadequate learning resources. The organisations stressed that investment in education remains essential to empowering young people and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
Chapter Chairperson, International Forum for WEOG Lagos, Dr Lucy Okeke, said education remains a central pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals, yet numerous children in IDP camps are still being excluded.
She noted that, as women engaged in the energy, oil and gas sector, members of WEOG remain committed to tackling energy poverty and its broader social impacts, including limited access to education.
“Our oil and gas resources, which are Nigeria’s major source of revenue, have not translated into economic gains for many citizens. As a result, many women, girls and children are denied basic education,” she lamented.
Okeke stressed that giving back to society should go beyond commemorative occasions and become a sustained commitment. She further urged governments at all levels to strengthen collaboration with the private sector and civil society to ensure that children in IDP camps are not neglected.
She called on the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to implement consistent, targeted programmes for displaced children, underscoring the importance of awareness, sponsorship and deliberate policies to guarantee access to basic education.
“The government needs to do more to ensure these children are carried along and not left behind,” she added. Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Epe Branch, Uchenna Ogwo, said education is a fundamental constitutional right of every Nigerian child.
She stated that under the Nigerian Constitution and the Child Rights Act, every child, whether internally displaced or residing in urban areas, is entitled to education.
She emphasised that responsibility for ensuring access to education should not rest on government alone, urging civil society organisations, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders to take active roles.
According to her, FIDA identified the school during an advocacy visit and resolved to intervene after recognising the educational needs of children within the community.
The FIDA chairperson encouraged Nigerians to be proactive within their communities by identifying children lacking basic necessities and either engaging relevant authorities or taking independent steps to support them.
“All hands must be on deck, the government, parents, community and traditional leaders, civil society, and religious institutions to educate the Nigerian child,” Ogwo added.
An Associate Professor of Law and National Academia and STEM Committee Chairperson of Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG), Dr Ngozi Chinwa Ole, said access to efficient lighting, heating appliances and clean cooking gas initiatives could significantly enhance learning conditions for children in IDP camps.
She explained that the deployment of off-grid renewable energy devices and appliances would be especially beneficial, noting that many of these options are affordable and often more practical than grid-based electricity in underserved communities.
“Energy efficiency interventions, especially the provision of efficient cooking gas, can support IDPs by reducing reliance on unsafe and unsustainable energy sources,” she said.
“Indirectly, the absence of adequate lighting and heating forces the children to spend time gathering firewood instead of studying. Directly, poor or non-existent lighting limits their ability to read or study at night, negatively affecting academic performance,” she stated.
She also observed that health problems linked to unsafe energy practices further weaken education outcomes, noting that good health is essential for effective learning.
Proprietress of St Stephen and Benita Tutorials, Mrs Adetutu Oshodi, expressed appreciation to the organisations for their support and appealed to government, individuals and other groups to invest in learning opportunities for children in IDP camps.
