The United Nations Children’s Fund on Tuesday disclosed that 72 per cent of children who completed primary school education in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states can not read “simple texts”
Speaking at a media briefing in Maiduguri as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Children Day event, the officer-in-charge of UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Joseph Senesie, added that only 62 per cent transit to the Junior Secondary School after completing their primary school.
As a result, Senesie emphasised the need to prioritise quality education, sanitation, nutrition, health, and protection of children to enhance a greater future for them as highlighted in this year’s Children Day theme of “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure.”
According to the UNICEF Maiduguri Field Officer, “Despite improvements in school enrollments, an estimated 2 million children remain out of school in the region. Moreover, 72 per cent of the children who completed primary school can not read simple texts, and only 62 per cent transition to Junior Secondary School.
“We must ask ourselves: Are we truly unlocking the potential of our children, our untapped treasures? Are we dismantling the barriers to their growth and safeguarding their future?” Senesie queried.
He highlighted other challenges facing children in the region to include the fact that only three in every 10 children have their birth registered in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, adding that 12 local government areas in Borno and Yobe continue to record high number of unvaccinated children.
“Several indicators remind us that urgent work needs to be done. For instance, only three in 10 children across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa have their births registered, denying them legal identity and access to healthcare, education, and protection services,” he noted further.
Continuing, Senesie stressed, “Twelve local government areas in Borno and Yobe continue to record high numbers of unvaccinated children, making them vulnerable to preventable diseases”
However, he insisted that UNICEF has played critical roles in ensuring children’s safety through vaccine and immunisation services.
“In 2024, with the support of partners, UNICEF achieved significant milestones, including treating nearly 600,000 children for severe acute malnutrition, reaching 2.48 million children under five years with vitamin A supplementation, and immunising 1.2 million children with the pentavalent vaccine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senesie commended the state governments in the Northeast for their efforts in child protection and health safety
“I commend the governments in Northeast Nigeria for achieving key milestones, including the implementation of the Child Protection Law, open defecation-free declarations in five local government areas. N100 million contributions from Borno State to the Child Nutrition Fund, and the inauguration of 27 Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition in Borno State.
“These actions demonstrate political will and leadership. However, we must maintain and build on this momentum. Let us seize this moment to tackle barriers to nutrition, immunisation, birth registration, education, child protection, water, and sanitation,” he advised all the stakeholders.
The UNICEF Maiduguri boss again expressed appreciation to partners that included the BMZ/Germany, FCDO/UK Government, SIDA, EU, Norway, Canada, GPE, ECW, and others, for their continued support.
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