The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern that insecurity in the North-West region has resulted in an alarmingly high number of out-of-school children.
Michael Juma, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Sokoto, highlighted this issue while marking this year’s World Children’s Day.
Juma condemned the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State, and joined the state government and security agencies in demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
He emphasized that “every child has the right to be safe, free, and in school.”
According to Juma, despite progress made in the region, including:915,000 learners benefiting from strengthened literacy programs.
No fewer than 215,000 out-of-school children brought back to class,212,000 learners engaged on the Nigeria Learning Passport.
Over 18,000 families accessing free healthcare,1.5 million children vaccinated in October and a new Special Newborn Care Unit in Sokoto saving over 1,000 fragile babies.
According to him, 3.1 million children receiving Vitamin A supplementation with a 95% recovery rate for severe acute malnutrition treatment
UNICEF warns that these successes are fragile and that insecurity, poor funding, and rising out-of-school numbers are undermining years of progress.
Juma emphasized the need for more resources to address the remaining challenges, including thousands of zero-dose children and poor dietary diversity among mothers and children.
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