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Tag: UNICEF

  • UNICEF, editors’ guild vow to tackle malnutrition, polio

    UNICEF, editors’ guild vow to tackle malnutrition, polio

    United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have pledged to intensify efforts to combat growing malnutrition and polio in Nigeria. At a meeting in Lagos, the collaboration was reinforced by Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), as the three organisations vowed to leverage their expertise and influence to protect children.

    UNICEF’s Nutrition Manager, Prosper Dakurah, noted the need for states to provide counterpart funding to access Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). This fund is crucial in the fight against malnutrition, which threatens approximately nine million children under five years in Nigeria. “Without urgent action in 2024, UNICEF estimates approximately nine million children under five years will suffer from moderate and acute malnutrition,” Dakurah warned.

    CNF is a financing mechanism to support sustainable policies, programmes and supplies to end child wasting. It is tailored to assist government-led efforts in countries with highest rates of child malnutrition. Dakurah noted while some states: Katsina, Jigawa and Plateau have committed funding: Adamawa, Ebonyi and Gombe are yet to do so. He urged these states to expedite their contributions, emphasising UNICEF would match any state’s counterpart fund. “You pay one dollar, you get additional dollar from CNF,” he said.

    Read Also: UNICEF gives Jigawa N500m worth of RUTF to combat malnutrition

    “Every dollar spent on nutrition will generate 16 dollars in economic returns,” Dakurah noted, underscoring the financial and social benefits of investing in child nutrition. He detailed the cost-effectiveness of preventative measures, noting it costs approximately N10,860 ($15) to prevent a child from becoming malnourished, compared to N99,636 ($140) to treat a malnourished child. The stakes are high, as untreated severe acute malnutrition increases a child’s risk of death.

    In addition to malnutrition, Nigeria is facing a resurgence of polio, a disease it was declared free of in 2020. Dorothy Ochola-Odongo, UNICEF’s Health manager, expressed concern about the re-emergence of the vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). This variant arises when the weakened poliovirus in oral vaccines mutates and regains its virulence. “To prevent cVDPV, it is crucial to maintain high vaccination coverage and ensure everyone, especially in areas with low vaccination rates, receives a full course of polio vaccines,” Ochola-Odongo stressed.

    UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, painted a stark picture of the challenges. “In Nigeria, 72 million people lack access to safe drinking water, 64 million are multi-dimensionally poor, 28 million children lack birth registration, nine million suffer from acute malnutrition, 7.7 million are impacted by conflicts in Northeast, three million internally displaced, and 2.3 million have zero-dose children,” she noted. These statistics highlight the need for comprehensive interventions, she stressed.

    Munduate expressed frustration at the resistance to immunisation, attributing it to cultural and social barriers. Many parents refuse immunisation for their children due to misconceptions, lack of permission from husbands, or suspicion because the service is free. She called for effort by the government, traditional rulers and the media to expand sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns to change these behaviours.

    President of NGE, Eze Anaba, noted the enormity of UNICEF’s task in Nigeria. He said poverty, an underlying factor, exacerbates spread of diseases and hinders healthcare access. Anaba highlighted the dire situation in various regions, including Southeast, where conflicts further complicate health interventions. “Even in Lagos, perceived as a rich state, there are poor people not captured by UNICEF lens.”

    The collaboration of UNICEF, DAME and NGE aims to leverage their influence to address the challenges facing Nigerian children. Speaking at the parley in Lagos, DAME’s Founder and Trustee, Lanre Idowu, noted the long-standing collaboration among these organisations, underscoring the need for increased engagement and best practices. Since 2005, UNICEF, DAME and NGE have worked to promote children’s interests, and seek to build on this foundation. In an emotional speech, Idowu urged editors to dedicate more space and airtime to issues affecting Nigerian children.

    According to him, the meeting in Lagos reaffirmed their dedication to upholding Nigerian children’s rights to survival, education, protection and development. Idowu discussed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reminding participants of the commonality of interests and necessity of implementing best practices in their spheres of influence. This is a testament to their dedication to ensuring needs of children are prioritised in media coverage and public discourse.

    Ochola-Odongo reiterated the focus areas of the collaboration: polio eradication, resolving nutritional crisis, and protecting children’s rights. She said resurgence of polio, with 225 cases in 67 local governments in 15 states in 2023. This year, 44 cases have been reported in 30 local governments in 10 states. Ochola-Odongo attributed this to banditry and lack of access to healthcare, among others.

    Dakurah, speaking on impact of malnutrition, said 31.8 million people in 25 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffer from food insecurity. He noted food inflation had soared from 24.8 per cent in 2023 to 40.5 per cent in 2024. The situation is exacerbated by low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, with only 30 per cent of nursing mothers adhering to the recommended six months. He attributed this to constraints faced by career women, who only receive three months of maternity leave. Dakurah called for an extension of maternity leave to six months to support breastfeeding and improve child nutrition. He also urged governments to intensify efforts to combat hunger by increasing budget allocations to boost food production and supply. Addressing the nutritional crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including policy changes, increased funding, and community engagement.

  • UNICEF gives Jigawa N500m worth of RUTF to combat malnutrition

    UNICEF gives Jigawa N500m worth of RUTF to combat malnutrition

    UNICEF has handed over Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) worth over N500 million to the Jigawa State Government to address the severe malnutrition crisis affecting the region. This donation is expected to treat over 14,000 children suffering from severe wasting.

    During the handover ceremony at the Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi expressed gratitude for the timely intervention. “The RUTF supply comes at a crucial moment as our over seventy (70) CMAM CentrEs across the state were nearly out of stock,” he stated.

    Governor Namadi praised UNICEF as the longest-standing and most reliable development partner of Jigawa State, noting, “For over three decades, UNICEF has supported successive governments in providing essential social services, particularly those that promote the survival, protection and development of women and children. We all believe the biggest tragedy that could happen to a child is to be afflicted with malnutrition at the formative stage of his or her life as the consequences of such an affliction are irreversible. With a hampered cognitive capacity, the child is prevented from attaining his or her full potentials in life,” he said.

    He highlighted UNICEF’s contributions to health and nutrition, basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), social policy development, and social protection interventions. The governor emphasised that the RUTF intervention aligns with the state government’s commitment to addressing issues raised in the report on the situation analysis of children in Jigawa State, particularly concerning the alarming rates of wasting and stunting among children.

    The governor promised to be more committed to issues affecting women and children in his state. “We are more committed than ever to changing the narrative by sustaining and improving all ongoing nutrition programmes, including our collaboration with UNICEF. No child in Jigawa State should suffer from hunger and malnutrition,” Governor Namadi asserted, underscoring the devastating, irreversible consequences of malnutrition on children’s cognitive development and their potential in life. He also pledged to further enhance the homegrown Masaki Nutrition Programme, leveraging locally available recipes to positively impact child nutrition.

    UNICEF Country Director Ms. Cristian Munduate commended Jigawa State’s leadership in nutrition, health and WASH over the past three years, noting their consistent fund releases, quality service delivery and creation of a strong enabling environment. She highlighted the significant role of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), supported by key partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office UK, managed by UNICEF.

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    “Jigawa State was one of the early adopters of the Child Nutrition Fund, releasing N250 million in 2023, which UNICEF matched. This enabled the procurement of much-needed RUTF to treat around 14,000 children with severe wasting, marking the largest contribution by any state in Nigeria under the CNF to date,” Ms. Munduate explained.

    She pointed out the rising malnutrition crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by conflict, forced displacement and increasing food insecurity. “Nigeria has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and the second highest globally, with over 9 million children wasted,” she said. Ms. Munduate revealed staggering statistics for Jigawa State: 64 per cent of children are stunted, nearly 10 per cent are wasted, and around 82 per cent suffer from anemia. Over 80 per cent of children experience food poverty, lacking a diverse diet necessary for growth and development.

    Despite these challenges, Jigawa State has been proactive in addressing nutrition, health and WASH issues. Last year, the state procured nearly 4,700 cartons of RUTF, treating over 5,000 children. Jigawa’s innovative Masaki Nutrition Programme, with 300 community sites fully funded by the government, focuses on malnutrition prevention. Trained community health workers are deployed across the state, making Jigawa the first state in Nigeria to implement such a community nutrition programme.

  • Polio, malnutrition cases rising, says UNICEF

    Polio, malnutrition cases rising, says UNICEF

    • …Global body, DAME, Guild of Editors partner on children’s welfare

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) yesterday raised the alarm over soaring polio and malnutrition cases among children, urging government and people to rise to the challenge.

    Although Nigeria was declared a polio-free country in 2020, UNICEF,an organ of United Nations (UN), warned that it has started rearing its ugly head in many parts of the North.

    According to the world body, malnutrition in children has continued to lead to mortality and stunted growth, adding that affected children also suffer cognitive and intellectual deficiencies.

    UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Cristian Munduate and two other officials-Dorothy Ochola-Odongo and Prosper Dakurali- called for urgent intervention to arrest the trend.

    They spoke at the parley among UNICEF, DAME awards and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos, in furtherance of their partnership for the sustenance of children’s righ to “survive, learn, to be protected, and develop to their full potentials.”

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    DAME’s founder and trustee Lanre Idowu, who spoke on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the two-year renewable partnership, alluded to the commonality of interest and the need for best practices in the respective spheres of influence. 

    He noted that since 2005, UNICEF, DAME and NGE have been working collaboratively in their collective promotion of children’s interests in the country, adding that there is need for increased engagement.

    The NGE President, Eze Anaba, said that UNICEF has a lot to do in Nigeria because the country is facing a myriad of challenges.

    He drew attention to the soaring poverty, which may have been the baseline for the spread of so-called strange diseases threatening many Nigerians.

    Anaba pointed out that “there is a low intensity war going on in the Southeast,” lamenting that the victims are women and children.

    He said even in Lagos, which is perceived as a rich state, there are poor people not captured by the UNICEF lens.

    Painting an awful picture backed by vital statistics,  Munduate said in Nigeria, 72 million people lack access to safe drinking water, 64 million are multi-dimensionally poor, 28 million children lack birth registration, nine million suffer from acute malnutrition,  7.7 million are negatively impacted by conflicts in the Northeast, three million are internally displaced and 2.3 million have zero dose children.

    She said these categories are at the risk of death.

    The UNICEF Representative wondered why many parents still reject immunisation for their children, urging government, traditional rulers and the media to expand the horizon of sensitisation and enlightenment.

    Highlighting why parents refuse immunisation for their children, she said many women explained that their husbands did not give them permission while others have suspicion about immunisation because it is free.

    Munduate said there is need to create changes in behaviour to foster adaptation to certain principles that safeguard life.

    Ochola-Odongo said the focus of the partnership among the three bodies are polio eradication, resolution of the nutritional crisis and protection of children’s rights.

    She pointed out that barely three years after Nigeria was declared polio-free, 225 cases were recorded in 67 local governments in 15 states in 2023.

    She also said that this yeat, 44 cases have been recorded in 30 local governments in 10 states.

    Munduate pointed out that while the 2023 figure represented a 23 per cent increase, the 2024 figure represents 25 per cent.

    She lamented that the outcome of the field research showed that 35,000 children were not immunised because their parents declined due to many factors, including religious beliefs, illness and fear of side effects.

    The official also said many children could not be immunised because of lack of access due to banditry.

    Dakurali, who spoke on the impact of malnutrition,  said 31.8 million people in 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffered from food insecurity, adding that food inflation rose from 24.8 percent in 2023 to 40.5 percent in 2024.

    He also said only 30 per cent of nursing mothrr exclusively breast-fed their children for six months.

    Dakurali attributed the low figure to the constraints of career women in cities who only have three month maternity leave.

    He advised government and private sector employers to increase maternity leave from three to six months.

    Urging governments to intensify the fight against hunger, Dakurali said nutritional crisis can be addressed through increased budgeting to boost food production and suply, and tackle nutritional crisis.

  • Polio, malnutrition cases rising, says UNICEF

    Polio, malnutrition cases rising, says UNICEF

    …global body, DAME, Guild of Editors partner on children’s welfare

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday, July 3, raised the alarm over soaring polio and malnutrition cases among children, urging government and people to rise to the challenge. 

    Although Nigeria was declared a polio-free country in 2020, UNICEF,an organ of United Nations (UN), warned that it has started rearing its ugly head in many parts of the North. 

    According to the world body, malnutrition in children has continued to lead to mortality and stunted growth, adding that affected children also suffer cognitive and intellectual deficiency. 

    UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Cristian Munduate and two other officials-Dorothy Ochola-Odongo and Prosper Dakurali- called for urgent intervention to arrest the trend. 

    They spoke at the parley among UNICEF, DAME awards and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos, in furtherance of their partnership for the sustenance of children’s righ to “survive, learn, to be protected, and develop to their full potentials.”

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    DAME’s founder and trustee Lanre Idowu, who spoke on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the two-year renewable partnership, alluded to the commonality of interest and the need for best practicess in the respective sphere of influence.  

    He noted that since 2005, UNICEF, DAME and NGE hsve been working collaboratively in their collective promotion of children’s interests in the country, adding that there is need for increased engagement. 

    The NGE President, Eze Anaba, said that UNICEF has a lot to do in Nigeria because the country is facing a myriad of challenges. 

    He drew attention to the soaring poverty, which may have been the bsseline for the spread of so-called strange diseases threatening many Nigerians. 

    Anaba pointed out that “there is a low intensity war going on in the Southeast,” lamenting that the victims are women and children. 

    He said even in Lagos, which is perceived as a rich state, there are poor people not captured by the UNICEF lens. 

    Painting an awful picture backed by vital statistics, Munduate said in Nigeria, 72 million people lack access to safe drinking water, 64 million are multi-dimensionally poor, 28 million children lack birth registration, nine million suffer from acute malnutrition,  7.7 million are negatively impacted by conflicts in the Northeast, three million are internally displaced and 2.3 million have zero dose children. 

    She said these categories are at the risk of death. 

    The UNICEF Representative wondered why many parents still reject immunisation for their children, urging government, traditional rulers and the media to expand the horizon of sensitisation and enlightenment. 

    Highlighting why parents refuse immunisation for their children, she said many women explained that their husbands did not give them permission while others have suspicious about immunisation because it is free. 

    Munduate said there is need to create changes in behaviour to foster adaptation to certain principles that safeguard life.

    Ochola-Odongo said the focus of the partnership among the three bodies are polio eradication, resolution of the nutritional crisis and protection of children’s rights. 

    She pointed out that barely three years after Nigeria was declared polio-free, 225 cases were recorded in 67 local governments in 15 states in 2023.

    She also said that this yeat, 44 cases have been recorded in 30 local governments in 10 states. 

    Munduate pointed out that while the 2023 figure represented a 23 per cent increase, the 2024 figure represents 25 percent. 

    She lamented that the outcome of the field research showed that 35,000 children were not immunised because their parents declined due to many factors, including religious beliefs, illness and fear of side effects.

    The official also said many children could not be immunised because of lack of access due to banditry. 

    Dakurali, who spoke on the impact of malnutrition, said 31.8 million people in 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffered from food insevurity, adding that food inflation rose from 24.8 percent in 2023 to 40.5 percent in 2024.

    He also said only 30 per cent of nursing mothrr exclusively breast-fed their children for six months. 

    Dakurali attributed the low figure to the constraints of career women in cities who only have three month maternity leave. 

    He advised government and private sector employers to increase maternity leave from three to six months.

    Urging governments to intensify the fight against hunger, Dakurali said nutritional crisis can be addressed through increased budgeting to boost food production and suply, and tackle nutritional crisis. 

  • NPC Lagos commissioner seeks collaboration with UNICEF

    NPC Lagos commissioner seeks collaboration with UNICEF

    The Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State on the board of National Population Commission (NPC), Saidat Olayinka Oladunjoye, has called for the collaboration of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on the enlightenment campaign on the proposed E-birth registration in the state.

    She made this call during a visit to UNICEF’s Country Representative at the Ikoyi, Lagos office.

    Mrs. Oladunjoye added that this would enable NPC have right data for developmental plans in the state.

    She lauded UNICEF for its assistance towards NPC Lagos and for supporting the establishment of electronic registration of birth and death certificate.

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    “We came this morning on a courtesy call to UNICEF. They have always been a partner to us. But we want to seek more collaboration from them and they have promised to help us ensure that we have outstanding birth certificate that we are printing.

    “They promised to print it for us. They also promised to give us the opportunity to have more spaces at the health centres in the state. They promised to do plenty things for us. They are happy about our visit.

    “UNICEF is about children. So, they are going to help us settle some of the challenges we have, especially getting the children immunised and all that.”

  • NPC Lagos seeks collaboration with UNICEF

    NPC Lagos seeks collaboration with UNICEF

    The Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State on the board of National Population Commission (NPC), Barr. Saidat Olayinka Oladunjoye, has called for collaboration of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), on the enlightenment campaign on the proposed E-birth registration in the state.

    Oladunjoye made the call during a courtesy visit to UNICEF’s Country Representative’s office in Lagos.

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    She said this would enable the NPC have the right data for developmental plans in the state.

    The Federal Commissioner lauded UNICEF for its assistance towards NPC Lagos and for supporting the establishment of electronic registration of birth and death certificate.

    “We came this morning on a courtesy call to UNICEF. They have always been a partner to us. But we want to seek more collaboration from them and they have promised to help us ensure that we have outstanding birth certificate that we are printing.

  • Cholera: UNICEF puts states on red alert to curtail spread

    Cholera: UNICEF puts states on red alert to curtail spread

    • Highly contagious strain found in Lagos, says commissioner
    • Ondo raises surveillance against outbreak

    Following the outbreak of cholera in Lagos and some states, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for extensive measures to protect school children.

    The UN organisation also called for concerted efforts to prevent disruption in the academic calendar over the spread of the disease.

    The Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, who made the call yesterday in a statement, said the outbreaks critically affected children and the young population.

    According to Lafoucriere, these vulnerable groups face substantial health risks, particularly children and young adults attending schools.

    She noted that children were prone to severe dehydration and a high mortality rate.

    “There is, therefore, an urgent need for good sanitation, hygiene practices, improved access to clean water, regular handwashing with soap and clean water in order to combat the outbreak in schools,” she said.

    Lafoucrier, however, solicited adequate awareness across the country to sensitise the populace on cholera outbreak and preventive measures as part of efforts to address the issue.

    Also yesterday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said Lagos Island has the highest number of suspected cholera cases with 106 cases out of the 350 suspected cases in the state.

    Abayomi made this known through his official X account @profakinabayomi while giving an update of the state’s cholera outbreak.

    He said laboratory tests had confirmed that the outbreak was due to cholera with the identified strain being highly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread dissemination.

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    Abayomi said 350 suspected cases of cholera were reported in 29 wards across multiple local government areas in the state.

    According to him, there are 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration caused by delayed presentation at health facilities.

    Abayomi said the state was receiving support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and International partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.

    To tackle the disease, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji  Ajaka, said the state has activated its surveillance for immediate response to any case of cholera outbreak in the state.

    Speaking to reporters yesterday too in Akure, Ajaka said two cases had been reported in Okitipupa Local Government Area, of which he said, had been curtailed by the Rapid Response Team.

    “The surveillance team was also strengthened with community informants and contact tracers trained and placed on stipends for eight months.

    “They have been deployed for active case search in preparation for any reported cholera outbreak,” he said.

    According to him, there is a collaboration between the agencies in the health sector and  Ministries of the Environment, Agriculture, information, Water Resources and Waste Management Agency.

    He appealed to citizens to maintain a high level of personal and food hygiene, and report promptly to the nearest hospital any case of diarrhoea and vomiting.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) General Manager, Mukhtaar Tijani, has urged the public to refrain from consuming water from unreliable or untreated sources.

    He said: “Residents are encouraged to bring water samples from their homes or public spaces for testing by our qualified teams at the Lagos Water Corporation Headquarters, Ijora. “

  • UNICEF, partners donate Oxygen plants to nine states

    UNICEF, partners donate Oxygen plants to nine states

    …as Oxygen plants excite Gov Otu

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated oxygen generation plants to Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, and Ebonyi states in its bid to assist Nigeria’s efforts towards enhancing quality healthcare delivery.

    The global agency, with assistance from its partners, the Canadian and Norwegian governments, and IHS Nigeria, is also set to hand over another set of oxygen plants at the final stages of completion to the governments of Bauchi, Oyo, Yobe, Rivers, and Kano. These are expected to be handed over to state governments this year.

    UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said the gesture was in recognition of the urgent need to bridge critical healthcare gaps, underscoring the commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people of Nigeria through robust healthcare infrastructure.

    According to Munduate, in a press statement by UNICEF’s Communication Specialist, Susan Akila, over the weekend, the handover of the newly built oxygen generation plants marks a critical development in UNICEF’s mission to provide medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities.

    The new oxygen plants can fill 135 cylinders (20-litre bottles) in 24 hours and can provide 720,000 litres of medical oxygen within the same time frame.

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    The capacity ensures that 100 children with severe pneumonia or 50-60 COVID-19 patients can receive round-the-clock oxygen treatment simultaneously.

    She said: “These plants will ensure a continuous and reliable supply of life-saving oxygen, essential for the treatment of our most vulnerable, particularly children.”

    In his appreciation of the donation, the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Sen. Bassey Otu, noted that medical oxygen is an essential commodity in both emergency and routine medical applications because every tissue in the body requires it.

    He assured the sustenance of the oxygen plant by his government considering its importance, saying, “Its importance was globally appreciated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “From then, its availability has become a most important indicator for measuring health system preparedness to contain health emergencies.

    “I am delighted by this laudable support from UNICEF and its donors in establishing this medical oxygen plant in Cross River State.

    “We will complement this breakthrough achievement in ensuring the sustainability of medical oxygen across the state.”

    On the reason behind the involvement of the Government of Canada in the project, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, James Christoff, said, “Medical oxygen is an essential life-saving medicine.

    “Having a steady and reliable supply of medical oxygen contributes to the successful treatment of patients at all levels of the healthcare system, including in surgery, trauma, heart failure, asthma, pneumonia, and maternal and childcare.

    “Canada is proud to partner with UNICEF and IHS on this important initiative, which is leading to strengthened health systems in Nigeria.”

    Mohamad Darwish, CEO of IHS Nigeria, expressed his organization’s appreciation for supporting an initiative that aims to enhance healthcare accessibility, improve service delivery, and strengthen treatments for illnesses within their host communities.

    “We are proud to support UNICEF and contribute to an initiative which is designed to strengthen healthcare services and help support the Federal Ministry of Health meet demands for effective oxygen therapy in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Only 63 % of primary school age children regularly attend school, says UNICEF

    Only 63 % of primary school age children regularly attend school, says UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said the education system in Nigeria is facing challenges of retention, transition and completion by pupils, particularly in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country.

    Speaking during a two-day regional stakeholders meeting on out-of-school children and retention, transition and completion models in Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states, UNICEF’s Bauchi Chief of Field Office, Tushar Rane said the situation has worsened over the past decade.

    According to him, with a significant number of primary and junior secondary school-age children out of school, totaling 10.2 million and 8.1 million respectively, Nigeria is at the forefront of global challenges in education.

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    “Only 63 percent of primary school age children regularly attend school. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2021, only 84 percent of children effectively transition to junior secondary education after primary school completion. Less than 50 percent – about 2.4 million – of the 5.9 million children who commence Primary Grade 1 annually in Nigeria persist to the conclusion of Junior Secondary Grade 3,” he said.

    In his address, Yawoji Ahmed Bala, a director from Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, cited factors like early marriage, peer pressure, and social norms as contributing to the high number of out-of-school children.

    The stakeholders meeting was aimed at garnering collective commitment towards developing and implementing strategies to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve retention, transition, and completion rates, particularly for adolescent girls and boys in secondary schools.

    The meeting, attended by commissioners of education and executive secretaries of SUBEB, emphasised the urgent need for concerted efforts to address these challenges in the education landscape.

  • Only 63 percent of primary school-age children regularly attend school – UNICEF

    Only 63 percent of primary school-age children regularly attend school – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that the education system in Nigeria is facing challenges with student retention, transition, and completion, particularly in the North East and North West regions of the country, according to UNICEF.

    Speaking during a two-day regional stakeholders’ meeting on out-of-school children and retention, transition, and completion models in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa states, UNICEF’s Bauchi Chief of Field Office, Tushar Rane said over the past decade, the situation has worsened.

    According to him, with a significant number of primary and junior secondary school-age children out of school, totalling 10.2 million and 8.1 million respectively, Nigeria is at the forefront of global challenges in education.

    He said: “Only 63 percent of primary school-age children regularly attend school. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2021, only 84 percent of children effectively transition to junior secondary education after primary school completion. Less than 50 percent – about 2.4 million – of the 5.9 million children who commence Primary Grade 1 annually in Nigeria persist to the conclusion of Junior Secondary Grade 3.”

    In his address, Yawoji Ahmed Bala, a director from Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, cited factors like early marriage, peer pressure, and social norms as contributing to the high number of out-of-school children.

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    Nation reports that the stakeholders’ meeting aimed to garner collective commitment towards developing and implementing strategies to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve retention, transition, and completion rates, particularly for adolescent girls and boys in secondary education.

    The meeting, attended by commissioners of education from the states and executive secretaries of state SUBEB, emphasised the urgent need for concerted efforts to address these challenges in Nigeria’s education landscape.