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Tag: UNICEF

  • Sokoto partners UNICEF in children nutrition

    Sokoto partners UNICEF in children nutrition

    Gov. Ahmed Aliyu has assured the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) of his administration’s determination to key into the children’s nutrition funds in the interest of children in the state.

    He was speaking when he received UNICEF’s Country Representative, Christien Muduate on a courtesy call in Government House, Sokoto.

    According to a statement signed by the Press Secretary to Sokoto State Governor,  Abubakar Bawa, the involvement of the state government in the nutrition funds is geared towards ensuring that children in the state derive maximum benefit from the  funds.

    “ I assure you that  in a couple of weeks, we will make funds available for the nutrition funds, “he promised.

    While commending UNICEF for its various intervention programmes on children such as protecting the rights of children, and preventing the spread of diseases,   the governor restated his administration’s commitment towards investing on issues affecting children in the state.

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     He added that the present administration has introduced several  programmes to cater for the needs of the children in the areas of healthcare delivery and  education, among others.

    Earlier, the UNICEF County Representative, Christien Muduate, extolled Aliyu’s efforts in the areas of education, healthcare delivery as well the interest he has shown on children’s nutrition.

    According to her, the unwavering commitment exhibited by Gov. Aliyu on children’s nutrition would go a long way in ensuring that more children benefit from the programme across the state.

    She further solicited for stronger partnership with the state government in the overall interest of the state.

    The courtesy call later went into a closed-door session.

  • Gombe partners UNICEF to address education deficit

    Gombe partners UNICEF to address education deficit

    The Gombe State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a project aimed at tackling foundational literacy challenge and poor numeracy skills in primary schools.

    The initiative is in response to alarming findings from a recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).

    The survey revealed that only 25 per cent of Nigerian children, particularly in the North, in primary grades four, five, and six, can read a basic text or solve simple arithmetic, particularly in the North, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the stakeholders’ engagement on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), organised by the partners, Dr. Aishatu Maigari, Commissioner of Education, decried the grim reality, which indicates that one in every three children, are out of school.

    The report further states that out of those attending school, three, out of four, are not receiving quality education

    Maigari referred to the situation as a “learning crisis,” pointing out that while many children were enrolled in school, they lacked the ability to read or do basic calculations.

    Read Also: Kaduna signs pact with UNICEF to return 200,000 out of school children to classroom

    The commissioner emphasised that children from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds were disproportionately affected, but reaffirmed the state’s commitment to delivering quality and equitable education for all children.

    Malam Abdulrahman Ado, UNICEF Education Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the issue.

    He identified several key barriers to learning which included poor teacher performance, ineffective school management, and lack of adequate teaching materials.

  • Kaduna signs pact with UNICEF to return 200,000 out of school children to classroom

    Kaduna signs pact with UNICEF to return 200,000 out of school children to classroom

    The Kaduna State Government on Friday signed a Contribution Agreement between UNICEF and its Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, with the aim of reintegrating 200,000 out of school children back to the classroom.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who signed the agreement on behalf of the State Government, said, the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project is designed to address the high number of out-of-school children, which she said was one of the most pressing challenges facing Kaduna State.

    She noted with dismay that, currently, many children, particularly girls, children with disabilities, and adolescents, are excluded from educational opportunities, which the project aims to reverse and bring about transformative change.

    According to the Deputy Governor, “I am delighted to be here today to witness and participate in this significant milestone – the signing of the Contribution Agreement between UNICEF and the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project in Kaduna State. This partnership is a critical step in our collective journey towards ensuring that every child in Kaduna State has access to quality education, regardless of their circumstances.

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    “The Reaching Out-of-School Children Project is aligned with our Kaduna State Education Sector Strategic Plan (2019-2029) and reflects our commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

    “The project focuses on creating access, enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, improving school infrastructure, and strengthening the systems that support the education sector.

    She highlighted the key objectives of the project to include: Equitable Access and Participation and Effective Teaching and Learning.

    “The beneficiaries of this project are both direct and far-reaching. We anticipate that over 200,000 out-of-school children will be reintegrated into the education system. Additionally, 1,273,222 primary school pupils will benefit from improved school facilities and learning materials, while 36,233 stakeholders, including teachers, head teachers, and local education authorities, will benefit from training and capacity development.”

    She expressed her appreciation to UNICEF, “our trusted partner, for their commitment and support in helping us achieve these goals. UNICEF’s role in designing and implementing the systems strengthening component of this project will be crucial, particularly in areas such as budget analysis and tracking, data system strengthening, evidence-based planning, and strengthening school-based management committees (SBMCs).”

    On her part, the Country Representative of UNICEF, Cristian Munduate said, through the collaboration, 49,000 children have been successfully enrolled into the Nigeria Learning Passport, which is significantly expanding access to quality education for children across Kaduna State.

    She said, “UNICEF greatly values its strong and productive partnership with Kaduna State government, noting that, the State has shown committed to reducing the 74% literacy and numeracy poverty rate through the recent launch of the launch of the Kaduna Literacy and Numeracy Accelerator (KALINA).

    “We congratulate your government on the recent signing of the Contribution Agreement between the Islamic Development Bank and UNICEF through the Kaduna State Ministry of Education. This USD 2.5 million, four-year intervention is a part of the Reaching Out-of-School-Children programme, and will empower the state by strengthening its Education Management Information Systems, enabling data-driven budgeting, planning, and performance monitoring for a more resilient education system that keeps children learning and in school.”

    “UNICEF is immensely proud to be a partner to Kaduna State. The support and access provided by your administration have been crucial as we continue to work together in raising awareness and advancing key initiatives in health, nutrition, child protection, education, and hygiene practices, all for the benefit of the children of Kaduna State.

    “As we move forward, we respectfully request your continued support for the implementation of the Kaduna State Model Out-of-School Children (OOSC) intervention work plan, led by the State Safe School Steering Committee under the Ministry of Education. By championing this initiative, we can ensure the safety of schools, address key reasons behind children being out of school, and foster a safer learning environment for all,” Munduate said.

  • Women, children most affected by poverty – UNICEF

    Women, children most affected by poverty – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has lamented that women and children are most affected by poverty.

    The UN agency said this has affected the rights of children to education, and nutrition among others.

    UNICEF’s Gender and Development Manager, Ms. Takudzwa Kanyangarara, said this during the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024, themed “Reimagining gender-inclusive pathways and partnerships for poverty reduction,” organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, a leading think tank in Africa.

    The UNICEF rep admitted that while progress has been made in trying to eradicate poverty, she noted that some of the challenges affecting women and children remain.

    Kanyangarara emphasised the importance of listening to girls’ needs and aspirations.

    She said: “Girls have told us how crucial it is to provide them with the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their health and everyday lives.

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    “One poignant example shared was the story of Zainab, a 13-year-old from Yoruba state, who has become an entrepreneur by producing and selling reusable menstrual pads.

    “The income she generates supports her education and family, demonstrating how empowering girls can drive significant change.”

    Despite these challenges, Ms. Kanyangarara noted that girls remained optimistic about their future.

    Executive Director of PIC, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu said children from the poorest families are nearly 11 times more likely to die than those from the wealthiest families.

    The director said: “In Nigeria, for instance, the link between poverty and child mortality is particularly stark. Children from the poorest families are nearly 11 times more likely to die than those from the wealthiest families.

    “The global multidimensional poverty index offers a comprehensive understanding of poverty, going beyond monetary measures to capture its multidimensional aspects, providing a clearer picture of who is poor and why.

    “It is against this backdrop that the Policy Innovation Centre has dedicated this Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024 to discussing policy imperatives and actions necessary to realize a more inclusive Nigeria for all.

    “Hence, the PIC community commits to translating every idea and recommendation from this Summit into a clear roadmap for actions towards improving Nigeria’s performance in gender index rankings.”

    Chairman of NESG, Niyi Yussuf stated that since 2022, the summit has been institutionalised as an annual gathering for multi-stakeholders to discuss and co-create contextually relevant solutions for gender and inclusion in Nigeria.

    According to Niyi, the theme of the 2024 gender summit is highly relevant as we urgently need to tackle poverty in the country, which disproportionately affects women.

    He said the scourge of multidimensional poverty persists, entangling millions and hindering the full realization of their potential.

    He said: “Hence, every aspect of our assistance must influence the fabric of our society and shape our collective future. Today, we gather with a sense of urgency and purpose, dedicated to combining our wisdom and insights to confront this pressing challenge head-on.

    “Our aim is to create solutions that directly lead to the reduction of inequality and deprivations that have stifled progress for far too long. Together, I believe we aspire to forge a path towards a more just, equitable, and prosperous society where every individual can thrive and contribute to our shared prosperity.

    “Hence, we need to design and implement solutions that will allow our women and every citizen to take their rightful place in our society so that our dear nation can finally realise its potential.”

  • UNICEF calls for urgent action on child malnutrition in Northeast

    UNICEF calls for urgent action on child malnutrition in Northeast

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has made a passionate appeal to stakeholders to urgently address the growing crisis of child malnutrition in Nigeria’s northeast.

     In a poignant address at the Child Malnutrition Media Dialogue in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Dr. Tushar Rane, UNICEF Chief of Borno Field Office, highlighted the escalating severity of child malnutrition in the region.

     The event, held in commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day under the theme #ACTForHumanity, aimed to mobilise media partners and stakeholders to take decisive and immediate action to combat this critical issue, which jeopardises the lives and future of millions of children.

    Child malnutrition, particularly in the conflict-ridden northeast, has reached alarming levels. Rane pointed out that approximately 2.8 million children under five, along with pregnant and lactating women (PLWs), are in desperate need of preventative nutrition services across the BAY states—Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    If left unaddressed, it is estimated that 1.7 million people, including 206,779 PLWs, will suffer from acute malnutrition by 2024. According to the 2023 Lean Season Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance (NFSS) Round 13, the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among children under five years old stands at 10.2 per cent in Borno, eight in Yobe, and four per cent in Adamawa. These figures translate to 511,807 children under five suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) yearly, requiring urgent intervention to save lives.

    UNICEF has taken the lead in responding to this crisis as the primary partner for the Nutrition Sector in the northeast. With 46 partners, including international and national non-governmental organisations (INGOs and NNGOs), UNICEF supports nutrition activities across the region. There are 765 Outpatient Treatment Programme (OTP) sites treating children with SAM without medical complications, and 50 Stabilisation Centres (SCs) for those with medical complications. However, only 63 per cent of the 714 wards in the BAY states provide nutrition services, highlighting a significant gap in coverage. UNICEF, in collaboration with donors such as the United Kingdom Government (UKAid) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has been working tirelessly to bridge this gap.

    A key component of this effort is the deployment of 4,383 Child Nutrition Mobilisers (CNMs), who play a crucial role in screening children for malnutrition at the community level and educating mothers on proper nutrition practices. Through these collaborative efforts, over 460,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition in 2023—a 37 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022. UNICEF has been piloting several innovative programs to address child malnutrition more effectively. One such initiative is the proactive screening approach in partnership with the Borno State Primary Health Care Board.

    This strategy empowers caregivers to screen their children for malnutrition using the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape. By adopting this “family approach” to malnutrition screening, caregivers can identify signs of malnutrition earlier, leading to prompt intervention. In Banki, a community in Borno State, this approach has led to the identification of 30 per cent of children receiving SAM treatment.

    Another key initiative is the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a financing mechanism designed to combat child malnutrition in the northeast. UNICEF has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with state governments, including Borno and Adamawa, to provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to children under five and pregnant and lactating women. The Borno State Government has committed  $100,000 in counterpart funding, matching UNICEF’s contribution. This initiative underscores the importance of domestic financing in addressing child malnutrition and improving the well-being of children affected by conflict. UNICEF’s efforts in the northeast have yielded significant results.

    Between January and July, this year, 2.6 million children aged six-59 months received Vitamin A supplementation, and 1.5 million children were screened for acute malnutrition every month across the BAY states. Additionally, 322,000 children were admitted and treated in OTP and inpatient care facilities. July, this year saw the highest rate of admissions compared to any July in the past six years.

    UNICEF’s support extends beyond treatment. In 2024, 497,000 caregivers received counselling and support to improve child feeding practices, while 159,000 women of childbearing age were engaged through Mother-to-Mother support groups. Furthermore, 132,000 children aged six-23 months received micronutrient powder (MNP) to fortify their diets with essential nutrients.

    Read Also: First Lady’s RHI partners NPC, UNICEF on birth registration in Nigeria

    A key element of UNICEF’s strategy is advocating for increased domestic resource allocation for nutrition programs. UNICEF calls on state governments to include nutrition in their social protection, health, education, WASH and agriculture plans, and to adopt nutrition policies with costed multi-sectoral strategic plans of action.

    Quarterly State Food and Nutrition Committee meetings will ensure that nutrition issues remain on the front burner and match funding from UNICEF will encourage government investment in nutrition. UNICEF also emphasises the importance of monitoring the nutrition situation through Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance and sentinel site surveillance, with response plans developed accordingly.

    In closing, Rane reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to the well-being of children in northeast Nigeria. “UNICEF will continue to support the government and partners to address child malnutrition, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential,” he stated.

  • First Lady’s RHI partners NPC, UNICEF on birth registration in Nigeria

    First Lady’s RHI partners NPC, UNICEF on birth registration in Nigeria

    The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has partnered the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on birth registration in the country.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, said the partnership aims to further ramp up birth registration across the country with the launch of UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate this year.

    NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra, who announced this after leading development partners to visit the Office of the First Lady at the State House in Abuja, said the commemorative event, scheduled for August 29, would mark a major leap in government’s effort to offer Nigerian children their first foundational identity.

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    “It is a global thing and it took place on August 10, 2024. But we are having this as a special commemorative event with the First Lady championing this drive.

    “We had a fruitful chat with her. I want to believe that we have a great event ahead of us that will mark the full force drive of birth registration to give Nigerian children their first foundational identity and recognition as our children that will grant access to government services, especially education and health,” Kwarra said.

    UNICEF’s Chief Child Protection Officer Ibrahim Sesay described the launch as important to close the existing gaps in birth registration and promote data-driven development plan for children in the country.

    “What is critical is we have been falling short in terms of reaching that obligation. So, the Office of the First Lady, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is a platform that we are now using to make sure that every child’s birth in Nigeria, starting from August 29, gets accelerated registration in all parts of the federation,” he said.

    The official launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate to Birth Registration in Nigeria will hold on August 29 in Abuja.

  • First Lady’s RHI partners NPC, UNICEF on birth resignation in Nigeria

    First Lady’s RHI partners NPC, UNICEF on birth resignation in Nigeria

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has partnered with the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on birth registration in the country.

    According to a statement issued on Monday, August 26, by senior special assistant to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the partnership is aimed at further ramping up birth registration in the country with the launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for the year 2024.

    NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who disclosed this after leading development partners to the office of the First Lady at the State House in Abuja, said the commemorative event, scheduled for August 29, 2024, will mark a major leap in the government’s effort to offer Nigerian children their first foundational identity.

    “It is a global thing and it took place on August 10, 2024, but we are having this as a special commemorative event with the First Lady championing this drive.

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    “We had a fruitful chat with her and I want to believe that we have a great event ahead of us that will mark the full force drive of birth registration to give Nigerian children their first foundational identity and recognition as our children that will grant access to government services, especially education and health”, Kwarra said.

    Chief Child Protection Officer, UNICEF, Ibrahim Sesay, who was part of the visit, described the launch as important, to close the existing gaps in birth registration and promote a data-driven development plan for children in the country.

    “What is critical is we have been falling short in terms of reaching that obligation. So, the Office of the First Lady through the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI is a platform that we are now using to make sure that every child’s birth in Nigeria starting on the 29th of August gets accelerated birth registration in all parts of the federation”, Sesay said.

    Mr Adedayo Bankole, the Managing Director of Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the technical partner to the NPC, highlighted the digitization of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (eCVRS) system.

    He emphasized the critical importance of establishing a foundational identity and ensuring the security of data for every child.

    Additionally, he noted the system’s interoperability with other identity agencies, such as the National Identity Management Commission and its seamless access to immunization records and other government social welfare services.

    Mr. Bankole also underscores the authenticity and reliability of the national document for verification purposes.

    The Official Launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate to Birth Registration in Nigeria will hold on Thursday 29th August in Abuja.

  • Integrate breastfeeding support into national emergency response, UNICEF urges govts

    Integrate breastfeeding support into national emergency response, UNICEF urges govts

    The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday, August 22, urged the Nigerian government to integrate breastfeeding into its emergency response plans to protect the young and most vulnerable citizens.

    The UN agency highlighted that in Nigeria, breastfeeding support is especially crucial during crises like conflicts and insurgencies.

    UNICEF also frowned at unregulated donation of breast milk substitutes and lack of clean water which it said could put infants at higher risk of malnutrition and mortality.

    Speaking during the inception meeting on the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) at Kaduna State Government House, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila noted that the theme for this year’s breastfeeding week, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”, underscored importance attached to the survival of every Nigerian mother.

    She said: “Breastfeeding is crucial for the survival, health, and well-being of infants and young children. It provides essential nutrients and protection against illnesses, vital for a child’s development.

    Read Also: UNICEF, KADSUBEB distribute teaching, learning materials to 1,000 out-of-school children

    “Breastfeeding acts as an equalizer in our society, offering every child the best start in life, regardless of socio-economic status. Our focus this year is on reducing the inequalities that hinder access to breastfeeding support. Vulnerable mothers, particularly in rural areas and during times of emergencies, require additional assistance to ensure their children can benefit from breastfeeding.

    “By improving breastfeeding support in Kaduna, we address the social inequalities that stand in the way of sustainable development and public health.”

    She however canvassed for a stronger financing environment at the State level by leveraging the Child Nutrition Matching Funds to procure MMS. 

    She also called for the improved health system to deliver MMS as part of a package of good quality maternal nutrition services and re-shaping behaviour practices at household and community levels to ensure adherence and compliance to consumption of MMS.

    Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe said, the state was committed to improving breast-feeding of newborns in the State, emphasising that human capital development programs will amount to nothing if babies do not survive and thrive due to poor or none breast-feeding.

    The deputy governor said that, in ensuring proper breastfeeding the State government is committed to providing qualified and adequate health providers in hospitals to assist lactating mothers, offering necessary vaccines to pregnant mothers and newborns.

    She however lamented that attainment of complete breastfeeding by breastfeeding mothers continues to face challenges as a result of ignorance, hunger, and poverty as well as insecurity in the North West.

    She also noted that the economic challenges of post-COVID-19 have continued to pose challenges to food production, income generation, access to nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, and dietary diversity appropriate for the children.

  • FG Safe School: UNICEF makes case for running grants for schools, trains Oyo stakeholders

    FG Safe School: UNICEF makes case for running grants for schools, trains Oyo stakeholders

    United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has appealed to the government at all levels to, as a matter of necessity make some amount of money, available for public primary and secondary schools across the country.

    This initiative according to the Fund will help save some minor and petty challenges in the schools before they escalate due to government bureaucratic processes that may delay before the government makes provision.

    The advice forms part of findings and recommendations from the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools’ scorecards, a policy document to enhance safety around schools in the country.

    Speaking during a presentation at the State level workshop for Education stakeholders on Safe School Implementation which was held at Government College, Ibadan on Tuesday, an Education Specialists (Safe School), UNICEF, Mr Believe Eke lamented that many states are not doing well enough in implementing the Safe School Policy.

    He said UNICEF embarked on the stakeholders’ workshop to enlighten and sensitise all stakeholders in the education sector on their roles to translate from the level of mere policy formulation to action and implementation of the Safe School Policy of the Federal government.

    He said: “What we are doing as UNICEF is to support the safe schools in Nigeria and like I said during the presentation, what we are doing is just moving from policy to action. We supported the Government in developing a lot of policies, the minimum standard for a safe school, the national policy for safety security, and violent-free schools.

    “What we are saying is that those at the school level, the community level need to understand their roles, the government needs to know what they need to do to be able to make school safer in Nigeria.

    “So the monitoring report that was done last year, the survey was in 10 states in the country, we wanted to know how safe are schools and based on the minimum standard looking at conflict, violence, natural hazards, everyday hazards,

    Read Also: UNICEF, KADSUBEB enroll 1,000 out-of-school pupils, donate free uniforms, books

    “Are the schools really safe? That’s the question we ask in the schools and so 6000 schools were surveyed and out of the 6000 schools, we were able to find out that out of 21 standards of the minimum standard, schools are implementing are not up to even 10.

    “The percentage of implementation is still far lower and so that is one of the reasons why we brought this workshop to see how we can create more awareness of the minimum standard for safe school. What government need to do, what stakeholders need to do to make schools safe in Nigeria and that is our goal. That’s why we’re here”

    He said the next phase, about ten states, including Oyo will be surveyed to ascertain the level of implementation of the Safe School Policy and confirm school safety.

    “In this next survey, we are doing another survey this year and Oyo state is part of it we are looking at 18 states this time around to find out the level of safety of children in the schools because our goal is to make schools in Nigeria safe and to provide a safer learning environment for students in Nigeria

    “What we are advocating for is a school grant. We are saying that there should be small grants for schools. You discover that if you go to some schools even to buy chalk, the government is providing, yes, but sometimes there is a gap between the time the government will provide those facilities and the time that the children need to learn.

    “There are some schools you would go to that the door of the school is pulled off and the school authority needs to take action on some minor repairs they can do for school safety and other issues.

    “So we are saying the government should be able to provide some small grant just like an impress fund for school to be able to manage few things, carry out minor repairs and that is what we are advocating for”, Eke added.

    Also speaking, another Education Specialist, Babagana Aminu said the workshop is to support the Federal Government and Oyo state with the implementation of the Safe School Policy with the basic mandate of ensuring that the basic rights of children are achieved and fulfilled.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Abdul-Waheed Adelabu appealed to UNICEF to ensure that the instrument to be used for data collection in the state should reflect the peculiarities and input of stakeholders from the state to ensure accuracy of data.

    He assures that the state will partner with relevant bodies and agencies including UNICEF to ensure that the schools are safe for studies across the state.

  • UNICEF, KADSUBEB enroll 1,000 out-of-school pupils, donate free uniforms, books

    UNICEF, KADSUBEB enroll 1,000 out-of-school pupils, donate free uniforms, books

    …establish primary school in hard-to-reach Kaduna community

    United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), has enrolled over 1,000 out-of-school children in a hard-to-reach Farar Kasa community of Soba local government area of the state.

    The partnership is also set to establish a new primary school in the agrarian community, while an adult education programme will be established for those above school age.

    Speaking during the distribution of uniforms and writing materials to the enrolled pupils ahead of the new academic session beginning in September, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kaduna, Dr. Gerifa Birukila said, the closest primary school to the community is 12 kilometres away.

    Noting that, distance had denied the community children access to school, the UNICEF boss said: “A few months ago when we came here for a medical outreach, we discovered that a lot of children who should have been in school, were roaming about and when we asked, we were told that, the community does not have a school, even though they would like to send their children to school.

    “So, we took their request to Kaduna State SUBEB and we discussed the possibility of bringing a school here and here we are today, gay is going to happen.

    “This community is hard to reach. So, it is isolated in terms of health, education, and others. It is one of the communities that are disadvantaged because of their location. We are very happy that the children will now go to school and thus I will reduce the number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State,” she said.

    The UNICEF boss however called on the community to take ownership of the school project and ensure the children go to school.

    She also promised that the Farar Kasa community would be provided with potable borehole water and a medical facility, while adult education would be provided for the locals above school age.

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    Chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi commended UNICEF for its consistency with Kaduna State in the areas of education and healthcare delivery.

    He said SUBEB was currently implementing its 2023/2924 projects with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), hoping that, by December, funds will be available for the construction of the school’s permanent structure to take off in January 2025.

    Abdullahi said Kaduna SUBEB had in the last four years built over 2,000 schools. “Now, we are going to access our UBEC funds for 2024, and we have promised this community that, we are g ppl big to build some classrooms here.

    “I have also spoken to the local government chairman because the local government employs teachers for the primary schools, so we are already making arrangements for the teachers that will teach in the school. They will start teaching in the temporary school facility that was provided by the community,” he said.

    In his remarks, the chairman of the Soba local government area, Hon. Abdulmumini Bawa Gamagira expressed appreciation to UNICEF and SUBEB for the intervention, saying that education is key to development.

    The chairman stated that 80% of the challenges facing Nigeria today, especially insecurity is because of illiteracy, adding that, “If we can overcome illiteracy, 80% of our problems will be addressed.”

    He said that the community no longer has any excuse, because the lack of school that was the excuse will now be a thing of the past, adding that, “we need to cooperate with the UNICEF and SUBEB for the success of this project,” he pleaded.

    The village Head of Farar Kasa, Alhaji Habeeb Suleiman expressed happiness with the school project, saying, “Our children lacked access to school, especially during the rainy season, because the closest school to this community is in faraway Kusallo.”

    The highlight of the occasion was the symbolic distribution of uniforms and other school materials to the over 1,000 school children.