Senator Tahir Monguno of Borno North Senatorial District shocked his colleagues with his confession of dropping out of school to become a commercial (taxi) driver in a bid to attract girls, highlighting the plight of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
In a candid revelation on the Senate floor during a discussion on the growing number of out-of-school children, Senator Monguno shared his personal story of sacrificing education for social acceptance.
Recalling his decision to leave school at primary seven, Monguno explained how the allure of being a driver, preferred by girls during community festivities, influenced his choice.
Premium Times quoted him as saying, “Why I decided to contribute to this motion is against the backdrop of my experience in life while growing up.
“Mr President, distinguished senators, it may interest you to know that while I was at primary seven, out of my own violation, I decided to drop out from school.
“The reason why I dropped out of school was because in my community, then, the vogue was to be a driver because once you are a driver, you are the talk of town and the elite in my community.
“When we go for festivities, there is a festivity in my community whereby boys and girls will line up and then girls will come and invite you to dance with them. So, when we line up together, girls will only come and invite drivers to dance with them. They will not invite those of us who are not drivers.
“I now said okay, if that is the case, let me also go and be a driver so that when we line up for festivities, girls will also come and invite me to dance with them. So, because of that, Mr President, I dropped out of school,” he said.
Despite his initial diversion, Monguno credits his uncle’s insistence on education for his eventual return to school, leading to a successful career as a lawyer, lawmaker, and now a distinguished senator.
“But because of the persistent and the consistency of my late uncle of blessed memory whom I grew up with, I finished my secondary school, primary school, went to the university, went to law school, called to the bar, became an accountant general, five times member of House of Representatives and now a distinguished Senator.
“At that period, who dropped out of school and became a driver, today, the difference is clear. In fact, it was not more than three months ago that I had to buy cars to support some of my classmates that have become drivers,” he added.
His story underscores the challenges faced by millions of Nigerian children deprived of formal education, with UNICEF estimating that one in three children in Nigeria is out of school.
In response, the Senate calls on state governments to ensure free and compulsory education as mandated by law, while urging the establishment of mobile courts for enforcement to tackle the issue effectively.
