By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
As the poverty level in Children from the North East Region of Nigeria keeps increasing, United Nations Children Fund (UNICE) has called on the respective State Governments in the Region to increase its investment into child-sensitive social service sectors of Governance.
UNICEF said that since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals at the turn of the Millennium, there has been remarkable progress in reducing poverty and enhancing the living conditions of millions of children and families, but that despite these advancements, many of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged children continue to be left behind.
Officer in Charge (OIC) of UNICEF Bauchi Field Mohammed Kamfut Stated made the statement at the commencement of a strategic policy dialogue on social budgeting for child-sensitive sectors in Nigeria, holding in Gombe between 11-12 September, 2024.
He described the dialogue meeting as a historic gathering, where key stakeholders in budget development and implementation would brainstorm on how to improve the lives of children in Northeast Nigeria.
Kamfut said that the dialogue will aim to collaboratively chart a pathway for adequate and sustainable financing of the social sectors in this region.
“Over the past three decades, global efforts have consistently aimed to honor commitments to children. This includes taking all necessary measures to safeguard and advance their rights, ensuring they have the resources to survive, develop, and thrive, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Poverty infringes upon children’s human rights and perpetuates a relentless cycle of deprivation that is challenging to break without adequate support. It leads to numerous adverse outcomes for children, including hunger, malnutrition, poor health, and limited or no access to quality education and essential services”, said Kamfut.
He pointed out that, as children grow older and remain in poverty, the impact of these deprivations intensifies, further diminishing their opportunities to reach their full potentials in life, emphasising that Nigeria’s population is estimated at above 205.9 million, with 49.5 percent (102 million) being children aged 0-17 years.
He said children in Nigeria are disproportionately affected by poverty due to their vulnerable status in society which, according to him, would have a long-term repercussions on their well-being, extending into adulthood.
“According to the 2020 report on Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis supported by UNICEF Nigeria, over 47 million children, or approximately 47.4 percent of Nigerian children, live in households with incomes below the national poverty line of 137,430 Naira per year (based on the 2019 exchange rate).
“Distinguished Commissioners and Partners, you would agree with me that this dialogue is very important to support and advocate to the Government for the well-being of children and the population at large.
“I believe at the end of the dialogue, we will contribute immensely to the full realization of children’s rights through, among other things, the improved budgeting and funding of child responsive interventions which will alleviate poverty, which is a major barrier to realizing the rights of all children.
“I am hopeful that we will achieve many targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending preventable child deaths, ensuring quality basic education for all children, and protecting children from all forms of violence if we make a concerted effort.
“It is my firm belief that this dialogue would effectively secure your commitment to domestic investment for children, system strengthening, capacity building and raising awareness about the deprived status of our children living in poverty taking the actions needed by all State and non-state actors to lift children out of poverty”, Kamfut enthused .