NESG partners UNICEF to combat child poverty, violations in Nigeria

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has partnered UNICEF to combat child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria.

The partnership, which took place yesterday will be financed by the federal government.

The partnership will align the country’s poverty reduction strategy with the child and national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), review social sector policies to lower child poverty, and put in place presidential-level accountability measures for reporting and receiving feedback on issues relating to children’s rights and poverty in Nigeria.

Speaking, Chairman of NESG, Niyi Yusuf said, “Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is crucial we tackle child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria to ensure their success.

According to the National MPI 2022, two-thirds of our children are multi-dimensionally poor, with 51% of all poor people being children.

“This means over half of the poor children lack the intellectual stimulation necessary for early childhood development.

“Our partnership with UNICEF is both timely and significant. UNICEF is a leading provider of humanitarian and developmental aid for children worldwide, and this launch represents a critical step towards a future where children’s rights are respected, and they receive the support they need to become productive citizens.”

Also speaking, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate said, “UNICEF is dedicated to protecting children’s rights in Nigeria and worldwide, and helping them build a strong foundation for their future.

Our partnership with NESG highlights the urgency of realising this goal and will coordinate efforts to achieve child rights protection in Nigeria through effective public policies.

“Investing in children is investing in human capital. The right nutrition and care, especially during the first 1000 days of life, can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn, and rise out of poverty. It can break the cycle of poverty for families, communities, and countries, and shape a society’s long-term stability and prosperity.”