The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the government and stakeholders to prioritise the welfare of children in the North-East region where millions are living in poverty and deprivation.
UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, represented by its Social Policy Specialist, Yusuf Auta stated this at the North-East States’ Strategic Policy Dialogue on Social Budgeting for Child-Sensitive Sectors in Nigeria, held in Gombe.
Auta emphasised the need for adequate and sustainable financing of social sectors to improve the lives of children in the region.
He noted that despite progress in reducing poverty globally, many disadvantaged children continue to be left behind, citing the Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis report, which reveals that over 47 million children in Nigeria live in households below the national poverty line.
The UNICEF representative also called for increased domestic investment in children, system strengthening, capacity building, and awareness-raising to address the deprived status of children living in poverty.
He expressed optimism that with concerted efforts, the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending preventable child deaths and ensuring quality basic education, can be achieved.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, represented by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, noted that children have been shortchanged in budgeting and planning, and called for a reversal of this trend.
He stated that the dialogue was timely, coming as states prepare their budgets for 2025.
Jatau further commended UNICEF for initiating the dialogue and expressed gratitude for the organisation’s efforts in promoting children’s issues.
