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Tag: UNICEF

  • 2,360 children killed by Israel in Gaza Strip – UNICEF

    2,360 children killed by Israel in Gaza Strip – UNICEF

    UNICEF has said that 2,360 children have died in Israel’s counter attacks in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ October 7 attacks on southern Israel.

    The aid group, which spoke of the “relentless attacks” said 5,364 children have been injured.

    Since the surprise Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel’s army have been bombing targets in the Gaza Strip and preparing a ground offensive in the sealed-off coastal area.

    “The situation in the Gaza Strip is a growing stain on our collective conscience. The rate of death and injuries of children simply staggering,” said Adele Khodr, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

    He said the Gaza Strip is suffering from acute water shortages, with severe consequences for children, who make up about 50 per cent of the population.

    UNICEF urged all parties to agree to a ceasefire, provide humanitarian access and release all hostages.

  • UNICEF laments 39,805 children in Anambra yet to receive Pentavalent vaccine

    UNICEF laments 39,805 children in Anambra yet to receive Pentavalent vaccine

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), says that 39,805 children below the age of two are yet to receive the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine in Anambra.

    Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Enugu, gave the statistics at a three-day stakeholders’ engagement forum organised in partnership with the Anambra State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

    The Pentavalent vaccine is taken against five killer diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenza type B (Hib).

    Chiluwe, represented by Dr Olusoji Akinleye, Acting Field Officer, said the statistics was from the multiple indicators of 2016 and 2021 mixed survey carried out by the National Planning Commission.

    She said the indicators captured in Anambra were worrisome and called for concern.

    “From the records, Anambra is the only state in the South East where Penta 3 coverage declined within the period under review, while the rest states increased remarkably.

    “Anambra has the highest zero dose cumulative population in the zone, precisely 39,805 children below two year are to receive the first dose of Pentavalent vaccine.

    “Access to handwashing facilities in the state is low, and still reducing further. It went down from 30 per cent in 2016 to 19 per cent in 2021.

    “Again, access to child education in Anambra is below 70 per cent and the second lowest in the South East. Anambra also has the highest out-of-school children in the region with 23 per cent.

    “Only 32 per cent of primary school age children enter primary 1 in the state. All these are all indicators of poverty,” she said.

    Chiluwe said that 296,000 under-five children were yet to have their births registered, which was actually the highest in South East.

    According to her, children whose births are yet to be registered and documented stand the risk of being denied their rights of identity.

    She said there was the need for deliberate, robust and all-inclusive policy on Social Protection to address the various forms of vulnerabilities and reverse the negative indicators in the state.

    “The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ms Chiamaka Nnake, had given us the assurance and we have agreed to deliver the Social Protection policy in November.

    “UNICEF as a body is committed to ensuring that the November deadline is achieved. We will mobilise all resources within and outside UNICEF,” she said.

    Chiluwe commended the state government’s efforts in improving the lives of citizens by offering free antenatal and delivery care, employment of health workers and teachers as well as the free education policy.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, said the social protection policy was in line with the 50-year vision plan of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

    He expressed confidence in the caliber of manpower and implementing partners involved in the process to deliver on the mandate amidst dwindling global economic challenges.

    Earlier, Commissioner Nnake said that the stakeholders’ engagement forum was to review earlier drafted social protection policy ahead of its launch in November.

    She said that the policy would serve as a guide for addressing vulnerability challenges and poverty level as well as develop a road map for adoption of the policy in the state.

     

  • Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, IKEA Foundation announce partnership

    Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, IKEA Foundation announce partnership

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU), and IKEA Foundation are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership to launch a pioneering Green Entrepreneurship Programme that is aimed at empowering African youth and tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity.

    In a world where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly urgent, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, and IKEA Foundation have joined forces to create a dynamic initiative that will not only make a significant impact on the environment but also provide sustainable job opportunities for the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

    Building on successful initiatives like Generation Unlimited’s imaGen Ventures and Yoma solutions, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme, the Green Entrepreneurship Programme called BeGreen Africa is designed to provide young African entrepreneurs with the training, mentoring, and funding needed to develop innovative solutions for Africa’s sustainable future. Through a series of workshops, mentorship programmes, and funding opportunities, participants of the Programme will be empowered to create green businesses that address pressing environmental issues.

    Key objectives of BeGreen Africa include:

    1. Youth Empowerment: Co-created with young green innovators, the Programme aims to empower young African entrepreneurs, giving them the tools and skills necessary to take an active role in solving environmental challenges.

    2. Green Jobs Creation: By supporting the development of environmentally conscious businesses, this partnership will help create jobs that contribute positively to the planet.

    3. Address the Triple Planetary Crisis: The Programme will directly tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity by fostering sustainable entrepreneurship.

    4. Foster Innovation: The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, and IKEA Foundation believe in the power of innovation to drive positive change. This Programme will encourage young African entrepreneurs to think outside the box and develop groundbreaking solutions.

    5. Build a Sustainable Future: Ultimately, BeGreen Africa aims to contribute to building a more sustainable and resilient future for communities and the planet as a whole.

    The founding partners of BeGreen Africa will leverage their collective expertise, close relations with government, the private sector and youth networks, and extensive field presence across Africa, particularly in Kenya to: a) develop a green-focused curricula that addresses the gaps and capacity needs of the identified target youth, b) engage expert trainers to deliver the trainings via www.TEFConnect.com, c) facilitate mentor and alumni network connections, and d) provide seed capital funding that will empower the identified entrepreneurs to kickstart, develop, and scale their green businesses.

    “We know the critical role that green entrepreneurship and agripreneurship play in driving innovative solutions to environmental issues and are keen to empower our young ones across Africa, starting with Kenya, to deploy innovative solutions to the climate crisis.”, said Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. “This initiative will empower young Africans with the entrepreneurial skills that are needed to accelerate the shift towards toward green economy. Working with great partners, IKEA Foundation and UNICEF Generation Unlimited, we will create new jobs, generate employment, improve livelihoods, help eradicate poverty and address climate issues in Africa. Our collective goal is to see young entrepreneurs in Africa build sustainable businesses for themselves and generate viable green jobs, so that our young ones are not left behind in the inevitable green economy that the world will transitioning to. Climate change is not just a threat to our future, it is also a threat to our present and there is no time to wait for climate action in Africa.”

    The BeGreen waste management pilot in Kenya, supported by IKEA Foundation, will train 1,000 youth in the country and economically empower 120 of them, all under the age of 35, with new or existing green businesses. The initiative will leverage learnings and evidence to generate a model of youth entrepreneurship in high-impact green sectors, exploring how young entrepreneurs can contribute to circular economies and scale a sustained green revolution in Africa.

    The government of the Netherlands is supporting additional BeGreen pilots in Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, and Morocco through the GenU Trust Fund, which will focus on green entrepreneurship across multiple sectors, and generate valuable insights in addition to the learnings on waste management from Kenya.

    Across the five countries, BeGreen will train at least 1,600 young people in green entrepreneurship and waste management and will provide more than US$ 1 million in seed funding to 225 young entrepreneurs, which will enable them to generate revenue and create at least 8,000 jobs.
    “We know that on the one hand, there won’t be enough jobs to go around for a fast-growing population. On the other hand, we have finite resources in the world. So, we need to look at how we can turn waste into value and create viable green jobs that help us stay within our planetary boundaries. To transition to a green and circular economy, we urgently need partnerships and coalitions of the willing, who are ready to experiment and scale, and who aren’t afraid to take risks.” – Per Heggenes, CEO, IKEA Foundation

    “Young people in Africa with a spirit of enterprise and innovation are key to powering an agricultural boom. By equipping them with relevant skills and supporting their solutions through mentorship and seed funding, we can empower a generation of agripreneurs who go on to drive sustainable economic growth in the continent and beyond.” – Kevin Frey, CEO, Generation Unlimited.

    The multilingual Application Portal is open to young African entrepreneurs on www.TEFConnect.com until September 30, 2023.

    About the Tony Elumelu Foundation:

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and increasing women economic empowerment.

    Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has provided over 1.5 million young Africans with access to training on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    The Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

    About Generation Unlimited:

    Launched by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 UN General Assembly, and anchored in UNICEF, Generation Unlimited is a leading global Public-Private-Youth Partnership, bringing together global organizations and leaders including Heads of State, CEOs, Heads of UN agencies, and civil society champions with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.

    Generation Unlimited is on a mission to skill the world’s 1.8 billion young people and connect them to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

    About IKEA Foundation:

    The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to children’s futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than €200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change. Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than €1.8 billion to create a better future for children and their families.

    In 2021 the Board of the IKEA Foundation decided to make an additional €1 billion available over the next five years to accelerate the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. In 2023, IKEA Foundation has already provided more than € 31 Million in emergency funding.

    For more information, please contact:
    •Joyce Wanja, UNICEF Kenya, +254 721 466267, jwanja@unicef.org
    •Augustine Karani, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, +254 724 169 487, augustine.karani@un.org
    •Moyo Awotile, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, +234 809 975 1482, Moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org
    • Anupama Saikia, Chief Marketing Officer, Generation Unlimited ansaikia@unicef.org
    Lotika Mehta, IKEA Foundation, +31 68 24 82 314, lotika.mehta@ikeafoundation.org

    Green Entrepreneurship Programme at UNGA 78

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation is thrilled to announce the official launch two significant initiatives at the 2023 Tony Elumelu Foundation breakfast roundtable session co-hosted with UNICEF GenU, UNDP, IKEA Foundation, and UBA America, on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA meetings in New York, to scale and highlight the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in all 54 African countries.

    1. The Tony Elumelu Foundation Impact Report
    The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in partnership with independent expert third-party researchers, has launched an Impact Report titled “The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: A Decade of Impact”, which highlights the significant contribution of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s flagship $100million Entrepreneurship Programme in advancing Africa’s socio-economic development. Through quantitative data analysis and qualitative testimonials, this Impact Report highlights the critical role of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in stimulating local economies across the African continent by driving poverty eradication, catalysing jobs creation in all 54 African countries, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Furthermore, the Impact Report highlights the improved leadership skills and enhanced business sustainability observed amongst beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in relation to non-beneficiaries of the wider African entrepreneurship ecosystem, underscoring our Programme’s holistic influence. This comprehensive Impact Report quantifies the real-world impact, learnings, and tangible outcomes of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme over the past decade. It also vividly portrays the transformative journey of young African entrepreneurs, and members of their communities, who have been touched by our flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, thus reaffirming the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s indispensable role in fostering innovation and inclusive economic growth across Africa.

    Read our Impact Report here.

    2.BeGreenAfrica The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF Generation Unlimited, and IKEA Foundation are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership to launch a pioneering Green Entrepreneurship Programme that is aimed at empowering African youth and tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity. In a world where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly urgent, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF Generation Unlimited, and IKEA Foundation have joined forces to create a dynamic initiative that will not only make a significant impact on the environment but also provide sustainable job opportunities for the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The Green Entrepreneurship Programme called #BeGreenAfrica is designed to provide young African entrepreneurs with the training, mentoring, and funding needed to develop innovative solutions for Africa’s sustainable future. The multilingual Application Portal is open to young African entrepreneurs on www.TEFConnect.com until September 30, 2023.

  • UNICEF set to commit 270M USD for humanitarian emergency response in Nigeria

    UNICEF set to commit 270M USD for humanitarian emergency response in Nigeria

    The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has assured the  Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, of their commitment to support the Humanitarian Response and Poverty Alleviation with 270M USD.

    The Deputy Director Information, Rhoda Ishaku Iliya of the Ministry disclosed this in a statement when the Country Representative of UNICEF, Christian Mundate, lead the Chief of Health & HIV/AIDS, Eduardo Celades, to the Honourable Minister in her office in Abuja.

    The UNICEF Chief also assured of technical support to build capacity of the Ministry’s staff as well as support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all Humanitarian Actors as this will facilitate effective coordination. In addition, they will support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent Humanitarian Emergencies and build resilience in the system.

    In her Response, the Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, informed the delegation that the Federal Government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is committed to lifting 133 Million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach; especially, the 71 Million extremely poor Nigerians who leave under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

    She charged UNICEF to also draw up plans towards supporting the FG on poverty alleviation. ”Time is of essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs that will bring relieve to the burdens of the poor. Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda, the time for intense action is now”.

    While she assured them of the commitment to transparency and accountability in all the processes of the Ministry, she told them that the engagement with partners like UNICEF will continue until Government achieves its target.

  • UNICEF warns Nursing mothers against artificial feeding

    UNICEF warns Nursing mothers against artificial feeding

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stern warning to nursing mothers against artificial feeding of their babies.

    According to UNICEF, artificial feeding of infants rather than breastfeeding is injurious to the child’s growth, development, and survival.

    UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene gave the warning while speaking at a media dialogue in Bauchi State to mark the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme ‘Enabling breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents’.

    She noted that Women should embrace exclusive breastfeeding, which is “vital to a more sustainable world as the only way out to guarantee the safety and survival of a child in his first six months.”

    Continuing she said, breast milk contains all the ideal nutrients for infant growth and the antibodies that help a baby fight viruses, bacteria, and all forms of infections, including childhood obesity and diabetes, and increases their intelligence, among many other benefits.

    She further noted that breastfed children have at least six times greater chances of survival in the early months than un-breast-fed children, adding that “exclusively breastfed children are 14 times less likely to die in the first six months than those not breastfed.”

    The specialist added that 13 per cent of child deaths could be averted if 90 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life.

    She added that breastfed infants are ten times healthier that others placed on artificial feeding.

  • UNICEF pushes for exclusive breastfeeding, conducive work environment for mothers

    UNICEF pushes for exclusive breastfeeding, conducive work environment for mothers

    Wevole Ezin, Calabar.

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged nursing mothers to practice Zero Water/ exclusive breastfeeding for six months on their infants

    UNICEF stated this in Enugu during a Zonal Media Dialogue to kick start the “zero water” campaign for breastfeeding mothers with the theme “enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents in commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week, (WBW).

    Speaking during her presentations, the Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Field office, Enugu, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, said effective infant feeding is a building block for human development and essential for child survival.

    She attributed Poor Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices as major contributors to increasing burden of infant and childhood diseases and deaths (morbidity & mortality), adding that, “working mothers in Nigeria often struggled with breastfeeding.”

    On her part, the Communication Officer, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha charged the media to use it tools to campaign for effective breastfeeding.

    She said the WBW which kick starts on the 1st to 7th of August 2023, is to promote exclusive breastfeeding to enhance children’s growth and to create conducive working environment for parents.

    “According to research, only 9 percent of organisations had a workplace breastfeeding policy and only 1.5 of the public sector organisations provide creches or daycare.

    “UNICEF expects that 100 percent of organisations are supportive in the implementation of breastfeeding/ friendly programmes for working mothers in Nigeria,” she said.

    She further called on lawmakers to make friendly policies, laws that would build on maternity protection, including leave for husbands to support nursing mothers.

    Onuoha added that “legislating for at least 18 weeks, preferably for more than 6 months, paid maternity leave and ensuring employers provide paid time off and a dedicated space for breastfeeding mothers was important.

    “It is also important to ensure that all women have access to maternity entitlements, including those in the informal sector or on limited contracts.

    “Tackling employment-related discrimination against women, including during and after pregnancy and birth.

    “Employers and managers can make breastfeeding and work conducive by providing maternity leave that at minimum meets national requirements.

    “Providing time and space for breastfeeding or expressing and storing breastmilk and also Providing options that reduce separation of women from their babies after maternity leave, such as flexible work schedules.” The UNICEF Communication Officer urged.

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  • UNICEF lauds Kaduna Govt’s primary healthcare delivery for women, children

    UNICEF lauds Kaduna Govt’s primary healthcare delivery for women, children

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Kaduna State Government for improved primary health care delivery, to improve the health and nutrition wellbeing of women and children.

    UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate, made the commendation during a working visit to Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC) in Kaduna on Thursday.

    According to her, Kaduna State has reasonable infrastructure and human resources in the primary health care delivery system that can significantly impact the health and nutrition status of women and children.

    Munduate said that UNICEF would support in addressing some of the challenges in primary health care, especially in political wards at local government level.

    This, according to her, will ensure that children are immunised and women receive vitamin ‘A’.

    She reiterated UNICEF’s continued support towards improving children’s health and nutrition through optimal breastfeeding practices by mothers and increase access to quality healthcare services.

    She added that UNICEF would continue to support Kaduna State implements policies and programmes that would promote healthy growth and development of children in the state.

    “UNICEF will continue to provide financial support, technical assistance, and provision of medical supplies, particularly Vitamin A and E.

    “Vitamin A supplement is very important in the prevention of anaemia among pregnant women, children, and adolescent girls.

    “Children with critical nutrition conditions will be addressed by ensuring that they receive ready-to-use therapeutic food and mothers learn how to optimally feed their children.

    “UNICEF support will include other actions for prevention of diseases and other benefits that will impact on the development of the children, women and adolescents,” she said.

    The Country Representative commended the PBC for the provision of creche to enable working mothers to adequately breastfeed their infant and young babies during working hours.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, PBC, Malam Bashir Muhammad, thanked UNICEF for the continued support in food and nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, child protection and other services.

    Muhammad, who is also the Chairman of the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, said that the committee was working to ensure that other ministries, departments, and agencies established creches.

    This, according to him, will enable working mothers to adequately breastfeed their babies without challenge while at work.

    He appealed for continued support for healthy growth and development of children that would guarantee the needed human capital development in the state.

    Newsmen reports that the UNICEF Country Representative and her entourage were taken round the creche facility in PBC to appreciate the commission’s commitment to supporting working mothers to breastfeed.

  • NYSC, NPC, and UNICEF join forces to revolutionize birth registration in Nigeria

    NYSC, NPC, and UNICEF join forces to revolutionize birth registration in Nigeria

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the National Population Commission (NPC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today announced a new partnership aimed at enhancing birth registration in Nigeria. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) solidifies the commitment of the three organizations to collaborate and support the digitalized birth registration process in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    This partnership aims to provide a robust framework within which the parties can implement a comprehensive and efficient digitalized birth registration process across Nigeria. By leveraging their existing resources and facilities, the NYSC, NPC, and UNICEF intend to benefit at least 12 million under-5 eligible children who will be registered as primary beneficiaries. Additionally, families, parents, caregivers, communities, households, state and local government areas (LGAs), and ward level administrators will be indirect beneficiaries of this collaboration.

    Speaking on this significant collaboration, the Director General NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “The NYSC is honoured to join hands with the NPC and UNICEF in this vital initiative. Our deployment of 850 corps members as coordinators and supervisors, spread across 22 states and the FCT, will ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the birth registration process. Together, we will strive to achieve comprehensive data collection and availability, supporting increased birth registration coverage in our respective LGAs.”

    The NPC, as a key partner, will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of this partnership. According to Chairman of NPC, Honourable Nasir Isa Kwarra “We are committed to supporting the recruitment of ad hoc birth registrars at the ward level and ensuring the availability of registration materials to coordinators and supervisors. By distributing protocols, checklists, FAQs, and informational materials, we aim to engage local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, and communities to promote the importance of birth registration. Together, we will generate and analyze digitalised birth registration data at the LGAs and wards, ultimately increasing birth registration coverage.”

    UNICEF, a leading organization in child welfare and development, will bring its expertise to the table to support the digitalised birth registration services in focus states. “Our primary focus will be on providing technical assistance and evidence-based interventions,” emphasized Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria. “By integrating birth registration into routine health service delivery, conducting the digitalized birth registration process, and increasing awareness through state and community-level campaigns, we aim to ensure that every child has access to and benefits from the essential health and birth registration interventions they deserve.”

    Through this partnership, the NYSC, NPC, and UNICEF are committed to promoting the importance of birth registration within the National Youth Corps programs, stimulating increased demand for birth registration services in health facilities and at the community level. The collaboration will also foster constructive engagement with local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, leveraging their support to enhance the digitalized birth registration process.

  • Chibok “nightmare” continues 9 years after – UNICEF laments

    Chibok “nightmare” continues 9 years after – UNICEF laments

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has described as “nightmare” 96 out of 276 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram militants from their dormitory in Northeast Nigeria who are still in captivity after nine years.

    The “Chibok girls” were kidnapped on the night of April 14, 2014, sparking worldwide condemnation and concern.

    The UN children’s agency, in a statement on Friday, said conflict in that part of Nigeria had continued to affect girls and boys.

    Meanwhile, thousands more girls and boys have been subjected to grave violations amid ongoing conflict in the region, UNICEF added, underscoring the need to protect children in Nigeria.

    On April 7, some 80 children were abducted by militants in the Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State, the UN agency said, citing local media.

    Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, says the “nightmare” continues today as many children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured.

    “We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of Nigeria’s children. We must do everything in our power to ensure they grow up in safety, with access to education and the opportunity to fulfill their potential,” he said.

    Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 verified incidents of grave violations affecting 6,800 children in northeast Nigeria, UNICEF reported.

    The most common concern recruitment by armed groups, followed by abductions, and killing and maiming.

    The conflict has had an alarming impact on education, and UNICEF warned that the repercussions would likely affect generations.

    Between 2009 and 2022, roughly 2,295 teachers were reportedly killed in attacks, and more than 19,000 were displaced, according to the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN).

    Additionally, more than 1,500 schools were closed, and 910 were destroyed, due to insecurity.

    UNICEF has welcomed the government’s signing of an agency-supported protocol on the handover of children encountered in the course of armed conflict, as well as its commitment to invest more than 314 million dollars towards a financing plan on school safety.

    The handover protocol signed last September, aims to prevent or reduce the detention of children encountered by military and security forces.

    Under the agreement, children allegedly associated with armed groups will be transferred to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development within a period of seven days.

    UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to protect the rights and well-being of children.

  • “4.3 million Nigerian girls are at risk of female genital mutilation this year”- UN

    “4.3 million Nigerian girls are at risk of female genital mutilation this year”- UN

    The United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund have said 4.3 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) this year and the number is projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030.

    This was as the two agencies pointed out that Nigeria accounts for the third-highest number of women and girls who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation, with an estimated 19.9 million survivors.

    The UN agencies, in a joint statement on Monday, noted that the world will miss the target of ending FGM by 2030 without urgent action.

    February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice. The theme for this year is ‘Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to End FGM’.

    FGM comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that experts say the practice has no health benefits for girls and women and causes severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.

    “This year, 4.3 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation, according to the latest estimates. This number is projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030, as conflict, climate change, rising poverty, and inequality continue to hinder efforts to transform gender and social norms that underpin this harmful practice and disrupt programmes that help protect girls.

    “FGM remains widespread in Nigeria. With an estimated 19.9 million survivors, Nigeria accounts for the third-highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide, with the risk of cutting highest in the first five years (86 percent of girls circumcised before age 5 – National Demographic and Health Survey 2018).

    “FGM prevalence in Nigeria is decreasing among women aged 15-49 according to data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Survey (18 percent to 15 percent 2016-17/2021). Similarly, the prevalence among girls aged 0-14 decreased from 25 percent to eight percent during the same time period (MICS 2021). This significant decrease in prevalence among girls aged 0-14 is a welcome development, given that an estimated 86 percent of females aged 15-49 were subjected to FGM before the age of 5 (NDHS 2018),” the statement read in part.

    It, however, said 12 states had a prevalence higher than the national prevalence, ranging from 9 percent in Edo to 35 percent in Kwara and Kano at the same time.

    The organizations said FGM violates the rights of women and girls and limits their opportunities for the future in health, education, and income.

    “Rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances, it is an act of gender-based violence that harms girls’ bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives.

    “Changing gender and social norms that encourage FGM is critical. Men and boys are powerful allies in the effort. Increasingly they are challenging power dynamics within their families and communities and supporting women and girls as agents of change.”

    Meanwhile, the statement noted that the UNFPA-UNICEF global Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM has supported over 3,000 initiatives within the last five years where men and boys actively advocate to bring an end to the practice.

    “In Nigeria, since implementation began in 2018, UNJP has supported the engagement of 807 men’s and boys’ networks to actively advocate to bring an end to the practice. It has done this by providing opportunities and safe spaces for critical reflection on gender discrimination, power dynamics, positive masculinities, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education targeting men and boys, so they understand the consequences of FGM.”

    The UNFPA Resident Representative, Ulla Mueller said men and boys remain key partners in addressing gender inequalities and harmful practices as we all collaboratively join hands to deliver the global promise of eliminating FGM by 2030.

    The UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate also said, “As a result of our collective efforts, we are witnessing significant opposition from men and boys to FGM. Today, men and boys are more receptive to change than before, and in some communities, they are more likely to disapprove of female genital mutilation and domestic violence than women and girls.”

    “This year, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, we call on all stakeholders to partner with and engage men and boys to shift unequal power relations and challenge the attitudes and behaviours caused by gender inequality that leads to FGM.

    “Integrate gender-transformative approaches and changing social norms into anti-FGM programmes.

    “Invest in national-level policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women, including the development of national action plans to end FGM.

    “Today is a reminder of the urgent need for even more targeted and concerted efforts to turn our shared goal of ending FGM into a reality. We must work together with all stakeholders – including men and boys – to protect the millions of girls and women at risk and consign this practice to history,” the statement added.