UNICEF committed to children’s rights, future leaders
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The Borno State government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are committed to the rights of children and become future leaders in the country.
According to the global agency, progress has been made in actualising the rights of children in the state.
UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birukila, spoke yesterday to mark World Children’s Day 2024 in Maiduguri.
Addressing the children at the State House of Assembly, she said, “I sincerely appreciate the Speaker and members of the Assembly for the opportunity given to our children to be one-day Speaker and members of this honourable house.”
She stated that the State Assembly will continue to stand up for protection of children’s rights.
Additionally, she noted that UNICEF is ready to work with the government as well as stakeholders to improve the wellbeing of children.
She explained that the Child Protection Law has resonated with the theme of commemoration: “Listen to the Future, Stand Up for Children’s Rights.”
Birukila noted that there is still room for improvement, as the recent flooding of Maiduguri exacerbated the challenges being faced by children.
She continued, “As we speak, thousands of children displaced by the flood are out of school,” stating that the affected children are being provided with interim radio learning classes to 10,000 children in Gubio and Dikwa IDP camps.
Besides the children in camps, she said there are other children in hard-to-reach areas, where essential services are limited.
She also lamented the floods consistent cutoff of road access to children in Ran, the council headquarters of Kala/Balge, a border community with Cameroon.
“There is the need to provide secondary school education services for children who wish to study beyond primary school education.
In her remarks at the commemoration, the Commission of Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by the Director of Child Development, Fatima Kyari, said that the theme of Children’s Day was to improve their living conditions at home and school.
“Your future starts now. You should be thankful to your parents, as they prepare you as future leaders with responsibilities in the state.
“It will inspire change in the deliberations of members of the State House of Assembly on policies that impact people’s lives, including the children,” she noted.
