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Tag: UNICEF

  • UNICEF donates polio eradication centre, four Hilux to kebbi

    UNICEF donates polio eradication centre, four Hilux to kebbi

    UNICEF on Wednesday donated an edifice named, “Polio Emergency Operation Centre”, to Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency as part of its efforts to hasten the eradication of poliomyelitis.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that aside from the centre, UNICEF also donated four HILUX vehicles to the agency.

    The centre is fully furnished with necessary facilities to ease communication and pave the way for the eradication of the disease from the state.

    In a speech at the inauguration of the facilities in Birnin Kebbi, Gov. Nasir Idris applauded UNICEF for the gesture and promised to ensure its proper utilisation.

    The governor, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba-Bena, said that the essence of the gesture was to assist Kebbi in fighting and eradicating polio.

    According to him, it seems the virus is resurfacing, hence the need for collective action against it.

    “In fact, what I saw in the edifice baffles me, the facilities put in place are actually fantastic.

    “We are giving our development partners the assurances that the edifice will work very well,” Idris said.

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    He also promised that the vehicles would be properly maintained, adding that trackers would be installed in them to monitor their movements to ensure that they were specifically used for the purpose they were intended.

    The representative of UNICEF, Mrs Christiana Munduate, said the main aim of the gesture was to save the lives of children by reducing the number of polio cases in the state.

    Munduate urged the State Government to ensure judicious utilisation of the donated items, saying that the objective of the gesture was to ensure total eradication of the disease from Nigeria by 2024.

    Earlier, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, identified “sector-wide approach” as one of the ways to implement health programmes in the country, championed by coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate.

    “The minister will ensure that everything we do as partners and government at multiple levels – the national, state and local governments – are coordinated and all moving in the same direction.

    “This is a platform to be able to do that.

    He said as the edifice would be managed by the donors for a number of months, “I urge the State Government to identify key staff and we will understudy them.”

    Aina advised the State Government to appoint a technical manager, who must be a competent person, a leader, somebody who understands better, understands immunisation and who would also galvanise the partnership.

    NAN reports that goodwill messages were received from Aliko Dangote Foundation, WHO as well as Bill and Melinda Gate. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • UNICEF seeks $2bn humanitarian assistance for West, Central Africa

    UNICEF seeks $2bn humanitarian assistance for West, Central Africa

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) yesterday  appealed for nearly 2 billion dollars to provide lifesaving assistance to more than 24 million boys and girls across West and Central Africa in 2024.

    It projected that 46.7 million children in the region would face another year of humanitarian need due to ongoing conflict in Central Sahel, Democratic Republic of Congo and displacements into Chad sparked by the war in Sudan.

     “West and Central Africa is home to a large number of critically underfunded emergencies, and some of the most neglected humanitarian crises in the world for children,” UNICEF Regional Director, Felicité Tchibindat, said.

     The 1.89 million dollar appeal aims to reach roughly 24.1 million children next year, up from 23.5 million in 2023.

    Aid will include lifesaving nutrition supplies, clean water, education and child protection services, as well as humanitarian cash transfers for households.

    More than a third of the funding will be used to address malnutrition, as the prevalence of wasting in children under five remains high.

    Read Also: Governor to UNICEF, UNDP: we’re determined to eradicate poverty in Anambra

     The Sahel countries are most affected, with several areas of Burkina Faso, Mali and northwest Nigeria showing emergency levels of child wasting.

    Meanwhile, the outgoing head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has urged global leaders to heed scientific evidence on climate change and accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources.

    Petteri Taalas, who ended his tenure as WMO Secretary-General on Friday, had assumed the post in 2016 and was at the helm of the UN agency over the warmest eight-year period in recorded history.

    “The expertise and services of WMO and the scientific community have never been more necessary to tackle climate change, which represents humanity’s biggest challenge,” he said.

    He issued a request to world leaders, saying “please pay attention to the scientific evidence and listen to the United Nations which is committed to promoting the welfare of citizens worldwide.”

    Taalas hailed the agreement reached at the recent COP28 climate change conference in Dubai as historic because it recognised the need to transition from fossil fuels, marking a first.

     “This is an important step in the right direction but not the final goal.

    “We urgently need to reduce our production and consumption of fossil fuels and speed up the transition to renewable energy. Time is running out,” he said.

  • Governor to UNICEF, UNDP: we’re determined to eradicate poverty in Anambra

    Governor to UNICEF, UNDP: we’re determined to eradicate poverty in Anambra

    Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has given a rundown of the programmes his administration is implementing and other efforts being made to stamp out poverty.

    Prof. Soludo, at a two-day Partnership Roundtable Meeting attended by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), said his government was making efforts to uproot poverty.

    Launching the event organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with UNICEF at Best Western Meloch Hotel, Awka, Soludo said through the massive employment of teachers, health care workers, promotion of industrialisation and others, his administration had reduced poverty.

    The governor, represented by his Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, assured UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other social development organisations of more partnership next year and beyond; saying their working relationship so far had been cordial.

    He said the government would continue to partner the international organisations on programmes that would help his administration to end poverty and improve the well-being of ‘NdË Anambra’ and other residents of the state.

    “The current administration is making efforts towards industrialising the state.

    “Anambra State has taken steps towards promoting inclusive growth, equality, security and a life of dignity for all. Over the past 20 months, the state government has reformed social sectors in the state,” he said.

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    The governor said he was working to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through the expansion of economic activities, attraction of more investments and exploitation of the abundant resource deposits across the state.

    “Our administration is clear about its governance philosophy of transparency, traceability and holding public office holders to account,” he said.

    Soludo hailed UNICEF, UNDP and others for their support, saying they had added value to the state through their programmes.

    UNICEF Enugu Chief of Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, praised Soludo for his efforts to develop the state for the benefit of the people, especially the children.

    She said the social protection policy of the government would improve key aspects of human capital development in the state, including social assistance, social care, social insurance, labour market interventions, micro and small enterprises development and complementary measures for social protection in the state.

  • Jigawa, UNICEF, other to address Out-of-School rate

    Jigawa, UNICEF, other to address Out-of-School rate

    The Jigawa state government in collaboration with European Union (EU) and United Nations Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF) have embarked on five days train the trainers for community engagement strategies on mentoring and monitoring to improve and maintained qualities formal and informal schools in the state.

    UNICEF Focal Point Officer at the JIgawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hajiya Umma Abdulkadir, said the project, funded by the EU through UNICEF, is to train 470 School Base Management Committees (SBMCs) and Community Base Management Committees (CBMCs) from 10 local government areas in the state.

    She said: “The 470 participants were members of where drown from School Base Management Committees (SBMCs) and Community Base Management Committees (CBMCs), desk officers and agency for mass education officials whom were also to go back to their respective areas across the selected 10 local government areas to train others”.

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    Hajiya Abdulkadir explained that “our target after these five days training of these 470 participants were to go back to their respective areas to train another 2820 others techniques and strategies using the newly Revised National Operational Manual as well as the Guidelines for Mentoring and Monitoring Systems.

    “The aim is to reminds and develop the skills of the engaged communities base committees their expected roles and responsibilities especially on the issues of attendance, retention, completion etc in the formal and non-formal schools such as Islamiyya, Tsangaya and ensure the children started, proceeds and complete their education.”

    She stated further that “to this regard another training is ongoing at Manpower Development Institute here in Dutse on Learners Unit Record Information and Tracking System (LURITS).

    Abdulkadir maintained that Learners Unit Record Information and Tracking System (LURITS) is a masters training aimed at tracking learners records of enrollment, attendance, performance and completion through attendance register through the head teacher to achieve the control of our of school children.

  • UNICEF, Kaduna gov’t train 500 adolescent students in life skills

    UNICEF, Kaduna gov’t train 500 adolescent students in life skills

    United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Kaduna State Government, have completed training of 500 adolescent students of Government Secondary Schools in life skills.

    The 500 students, most of whom are girls, including those living with disabilities were trained in shoemaking, cap making, bag making, and other relevant skills such as life skills, coding, and robotics.

    The 5-day training programme tagged: ‘Transferable and employability skills programme for adolescents in Kaduna State’, was conducted in 10 centres across the State.

    In a message to the closing ceremony of the training the Chief of Kaduna Field Office, Gerida Birukila said the objective of the training was to empower adolescent girls with practical, gender-neutral skills to enhance their future career opportunities.

    Read Also: 74 percent in Kwara have access to clean water, says UNICEF specialist

    He said it was also aimed at fostering creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking among participating girls, as well as encouraging collaboration and networking among girls from different schools and backgrounds.

    The UNICEF boss, however, expressed optimism that the training would increase confidence and self-esteem, enhance problem-solving and critical thinking, and creativity skills among participating girls.

    Speaking at one of the centres domiciled at Government Girls Secondary School, Independence Way, Coordinator of the Training, Florence David Adake from the State Universal Basic Education Board said the training was very impactful as the students have been able to produce beautiful bags and shoes within just a few days.

  • NPC, UNICEF call for children’s digital birth registration

    NPC, UNICEF call for children’s digital birth registration

    The National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called on Nigerians to register the birth of their children for national planning and development.

    The ongoing birth registration is digital and free for children aged below 17 years, UNICEF said.

    “Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognised by the government,” UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, said.

    Farah spoke during a two-day media dialogue on birth registration, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, held at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.

    He explained that birth registration is a significant right that the Nigerian government has covenanted to accord her children.

    Read Also: FG to open up 28 States for water transportation

    Quoting Article 7 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Farah added that every child has a right to a name and nationality.

    “However, despite these provisions, birth registration uptake in Nigeria has been less than optimal, depriving Nigerian children these basic rights recognised by both the UN and the Government of Nigeria.

    “If the births of eligible children are not registered, it makes them invisible as it deprives the Nigerian child a right to a

    formal identity.

    “Legally speaking, that child becomes invisible and does not exist,” the UNICEF chief said.

    He insisted that addressing the challenge of inadequate or lack of awareness of the importance of Birth Registration, and where caregivers and mothers can go to register the births of their children, is a very urgent public priority.”

  • UNICEF, Jigawa, disburse N500m for RUTF

    UNICEF, Jigawa, disburse N500m for RUTF

    Jigawa Executive Council has approved the disbursement of N250 million counterpart grant for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to fight acute child malnutrition.

    The state Chief Nutrition Officer, Mr Saidu Umar, made this known at a news conference in Dutse yesterday..

    He said UNICEF had also approved its counterpart fund of N250 million for the procurement of necessary commodities for the RUTF.

    The official said that under the agreement, UNICEF would facilitate and supervise the process of the procurement of the RUTF and equally assist in its management and distribution to various Centres for Management of Accurate Malnutrition (CMAM).

    Read Also: UNICEF, NASSCO, British High Commission for CORN conference on social protection

    He added that no fewer than 10,000 children currently suffering from acute malnutriton in the state would benefit from the support.

    Umar said that in addition to the RUTF, the state was also supporting various programmes to enhance maternal and child nutrition.

    The Chairman, Jigawa Coalition of Civil Societies on Nutrition (JICCON), Mr Shuaibu Musa, said that the fund approval was timely, which would hopefully save many lives.

    “Already, all the 67 CMAM centres in the state are out of stock, now, our hope is rekindled. RUTF will soon be available for malnourished children,” he added.

  • UNICEF, NASSCO, British High Commission for CORN conference on social protection

    UNICEF, NASSCO, British High Commission for CORN conference on social protection

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and the British High Commission to Nigeria are among those will attend Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN) international Conference holding in Abuja.

    The Conference slated for November 8-9 at the Conference Hall of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja serves as first intellectual forum for Nigerian scholars to critically interrogate the practice of social protection in Nigeria.

    A statement by CORN West Africa Director, Dr. Tarila Marclint Ebiede, stated that the maiden conference which is organised in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), focuses on “Social protection in fragile and conflict affected societies in Nigeria”.

    According to him, Prof. Remi Aiyede, the Research and Policy Uptake Lead at the Partnership for Social and Governance Research in Africa (PASGR), Kenya, will deliver keynote address while Hon. Abdulaziz Danladi, National Coordinator for NASSCO, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Country Representative Nigeria, and Chris Pycroft, Development Director, British High Commission, Nigeria are also billed to adress the gathering.

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    “CORN West Africa has mobilised researchers to critically review the practise of social protection policies such as conditional cash transfers, support for internally displaced persons, and school feeding among others at an international Conference holding in Abuja.”

    He noted that proper management of Social protection can contribute to peacebuilding and reduce conflict as well as insecurity in Nigeria.

    Ebiede said, “the conference is coming at a time when the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have rolled out different social protection programmes designed to help citizens cope with the prevailing difficult economic situation in the country.”

    “Papers at the conference will examine how these social protection programmes, such as conditional cash transfers, school feeding programmes, COVID-19 palliatives, support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Nigeria, youth empowerment programmes, have fared in practice.”

    “The conference will also examine the links between social protection programmes and efforts of peacebuilding, conflict management, and reduction of insecurity in Nigeria.”

    “A special session at the conference will focus on the politics of Nigeria’s social register, with the aim of unpacking the implications for poverty alleviation. This conference is urgent because it creates an opportunity for policy makers to receive feedback on ongoing programmes and policies with the aim of improving the outcomes of these programmes and policies.”

    “The conference will attract scholars, researchers, and policy analysts from universities, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and abroad.”

  • Airtel, UNICEF deepen partnerships

    Airtel, UNICEF deepen partnerships

    Impressed by the level of the impact of the Re-imagine Education programme in the country, Airtel and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have resolved to add 600 more schools to the existing 620.

    Speaking during a joint visit of both organizations to Oremeji Primary School, Ajegunle, as part of the activities to assess the impact of the program on the learning outcomes of the students, the two organisations expressed satisfaction and delight at the progress recorded describing the students’ enthusiasm and improved learning outcomes as proof to the effectiveness of the initiative.

    Read Also: UNICEF empowers 1.8m Nigerian children in four years

    The delegation, which was led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya; had Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz; , UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere; and other corporate leaders from Airtel and UNICEF engaged teachers, pupils, and school administrators to evaluate the impact of the program on the learning outcomes of the students.

  • UNICEF empowers 1.8m Nigerian children in four years

    UNICEF empowers 1.8m Nigerian children in four years

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has claimed that it has empowered over 1.8 million Nigerian children with learning materials in the last four years.

    Education Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, Mrs. Yetunde Oluwatosin, said this when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    Oluwatosin was speaking on the funds Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), assuring of continued support through the FLN approach to enhance early child education in Nigeria.

    FLN was an innovative learning solution for classrooms and at home.

     “So, we introduce and support states to implement the teachings at the right level approach aimed to lay a very good education foundation for the Nigerian child.

     “The idea is to ensure that the children achieve or attain the desired level in their grade with the teaching, learning materials, been curriculum-aligned, high quality and inclusive.

    “As the child progresses into primary school, giving them an approach of using mother tongue, they are able to learn and get the literacy and numeracy growth as it should.

    Read Also: UNICEF identifies, proffers solutions to Nigeria’s learning crisis

    “We reached out to over 1.8 million children with learning materials from 2018to 2022 and we are working toward another batch of 4.8 million by 2027.

     “We embarked on this because we observed that some children are going through the system, but are not at the level that they should, which calls for remedial approach to bring them back on board,” she said.

     The UNICEF specialist said that such evidence was being used in different countries, citing India, where the context was similar to that of Nigeria.

    She said that the approaches had been piloted, tested and they showed great results.

    Oluwatosin urged government to strengthen its collaboration with UNICEF by allocating more funds to the education sector from the basic level and early education of a child.

    “This is global era where digitilisation and technology rules, therefore, government should ensure the scale up of these approaches across states, so that our children can learn well as they go through the system,” she said.

    he called for regularly empowerment and upgrade of teachers in the system to boost their skills, describing them as critical stakeholders.

     “We need to get it right from the pre-service level, teachers, needs their capacity to be built before they go into the profession, to prepare them to teach the 21st century learners.

     “Even, when they get to service, there should be continuity the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria should set the professional standard and how best to implement it.

    “Teachers, as they go through the years, they need the new approaches to enable them be in form with other teachers in other part of the world.

     “Schools need to have a very effective, capacity built teachers, knowledgeable with that mentoring, coaching approach which is one of the areas UNICEF is focusing on,” she said.