Education UNICEF begins new five year programme to protect Nigerian children

By Maryam Abeeb

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has began a new programme that will last for five years, panning from 2023 to 2027; to ensure the development and protection of vulnerable Nigerian children.

UNICEF communication specialist, Geoffrey Njoku disclosed this during a twoday Training of Trainers (TOT) on Child Rights Reporting Curriculum (CRRC) and media dialogue organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF in Enugu.

Njoku, explained that the country programme of the UNICEF will cover four major component to include child survival in terms of health, nutrition, water and sanitation; basic education; child protection; social policy and gender equality.

He decried that Nigeria is still home to the highest number of out-of-school children, as an estimated 26. 5 percent of primary school age children are not in formal school of which 60 percent are girls.

He added that in Nigeria, infant and under five mortality are among the highest in the world, which is likely to increase with the country’s population expected to reach 401 million by 2050.

He equally noted that the government-funded social protection systems is limited, reaching only a fraction of the poor and vulnerable, an estimated 10.4 percent of the population.

The Communication Officer further explained that UNICEF aims at changing persistent gender inequalities, insufficient government expenditure that leads to out-of-pocket expenditure and limitations in state and local government human resource capacity.

He added that the UNICEF will strengthen systems at national and sub-national levels to eliminate poverty, malnutrition, ensure education, protect children; support the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance; engage with the private sector, among others.

Also speaking during the event, Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, noted that a broad range of abuses against children emanates from ignorance of what constitutes child’s right.

She stated that the workshop will broaden the scope of knowledge and exposure of the communication students and practitioners of Mass Communication by way of infusion of the Child Rights concerns, which are also topical concerns for human development.

She commended the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka Anambra State for taking the first step to further mainstream child rights curriculum by electing the CRRC as a general studies course and urged other partnering universities and communication institutions to emulate the feat as recorded by NAU in the interest of fostering child rights reportage in Nigeria.

Speaking on Child Rights teachers

Reporting, Director Special Programme, Nigeria Union of Journalism(NIJ), Dr. Jide Johnson explained that a child is entitled to the right to justice and peace in terms of good governance, protection against exploitation and harmful traditional practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation.

Jide, who decry the many challenges Nigerian children face, lamented that children constitute half of the population in most developing nation are more vulnerable to poverty and abuse which leaves an indelible marks on their development and potentials.

He therefore call on the media to draw attention of duty bearers to pay on issues relating to children as what they become will shape the system.