The U.S. Embassy has condemned the killing of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), health worker, Hauwa Liman by Boko Haram on Monday.
The embassy in statement on Tuesday in Abuja expressed its condolence to the family of Liman and the ICRC.
”We stand in solidarity with our Nigerian partners as we work to defeat ISIS-West Africa and prevent these tragedies.
”Our thoughts and prayers go out to Hauwa’s family, to her colleagues, and to those still suffering in captivity,” it stated.
Recall that the Boko Haram jihadists had on Monday killed Hauwa, another kidnapped female aid worker in northeast, Nigeria.
This is coming a month after one of her colleagues, Saifura Khorsa, who also worked for ICRC, was murdered.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed had described the killing as “dastardly, inhuman and ungodly,” and vowed to push for the release of the remaining female captives.
Three female health workers were kidnapped during a Boko Haram raid on the remote town of Rann, in Borno state, on March 1 that killed three other aid workers and eight Nigerian soldiers.
Two of the kidnapped women, Hauwa Liman and Saifura Khorsa, worked for the ICRC while the third, Alice Loksha, worked for the UN children’s agency, (UNICEF).
Tag: UNICEF
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U.S. condemns killing of Hauwa Liman
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JUST IN: 833 child soldiers rejoin family in Maiduguri
Children, numbering 833, have been released from the ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri as part of commitments to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this is the first formal release of children from the CJTF since September 2017 when the group signed an action plan committing to put measures in place to end and prevent child recruitment following a listing in the annexes of the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report for Children and Armed Conflict for the recruitment and use of children.
“The release of these children from CJTF shows commitment to implement the provisions of the Action Plan and to uphold international humanitarian law, human rights laws as well as other regional and national legislations, protecting children’s rights,” said Pernille Ironside, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Nigeria and the Co-chair of United Nations Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting on grave child rights violations (CTFMR).
“This is a significant milestone in ending the recruitment and use of children, but many more children remain in the ranks of other armed groups in either combat or support roles. We call on all parties to stop recruiting children and let children be children,” the UNICEF official added.
TNG reports since the Action Plan was signed, members of the CTFMR initiated a joint field verification exercise to ascertain the presence and association of children within the command structures and ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
“As of today, a total of 1,469 children (1,175 boys and 294 girls), associated with the Civilian Joint Task Force have been identified within the city of Maiduguri.
“UNICEF continues to work closely with state authorities to support the implementation of reintegration programmes for the children released today as well as others affected by the ongoing conflict.
“Since 2017, UNICEF has supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8,700 children released from armed groups, helping trace their families, returning them to their communities, and offering them psychosocial support, education, vocational training and informal apprenticeships, and opportunities to improve livelihoods,” a UNICEF statement read.
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Boko Haram: Nigerian Army hands over 183 children to UNICEF
The Nigerian Army on Monday formally handed over 183 children linked with armed group in the Northeast to the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitation.
Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief Army Staff, said the handover was in line with the international laws for the protection of children in conflict.
Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed that the children included 175 boys and eight girls.
He explained that some of them were used as fighters and suicide bombers by the insurgents.
The Army chief said that the children would undergo comprehensive psychological support and rehabilitation programme to facilitate their integration into the society.
Buratai reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to end insurgency and ensure the protection of human rights.
Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, said the UN welcomed the release of the 183 children suspected of Boko Haram ties.
Kallon, represented by Ibrahim Cecee, noted that the release was sequel to the clearance of the children, aged between 7 and 18; of ties with the insurgents.
“The 8 girls and 175 boys are first and foremost victims of the ongoing conflict and their release is an important step on their long road to recovery.
“We will work with the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and partners to provide the children with all the assistance they need.
“I also want to commend the action taken by the military and the authorities, it demonstrates a clear commitment to better protect children affected by the ongoing conflict,” he said.
Kallon added that the children would receive medical attention and psychosocial support before the process of reuniting them with their families and reintegration into society.
According to him, the organisation had supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8, 700 children released from armed groups since 2017.
The UN official added that the children were assisted to trace their families and returned to their communities; as well as offered them psychosocial support, education, vocational training, informal apprenticeships, and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
Also, Gov. Kashim Shettima, lauded the military over the release of the children and the successes recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign.
Shettima, who was represented by Fanta Baba-Shehu, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, admonished the children to pay attention to what they would learn to enable them become responsible members of the society.
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Children’s Day: UNICEF pledges to support Kaduna State Govt. take children off streets
UNICEF on Sunday pledged continued support to Kaduna State Government to assist take-off the streets the alarming number of children begging for alms.
Dr Zakari Adam, the Chief Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, made the pledge at the Fifth Chukker Polo Club, during the Children’s Day celebration, organised by UNICEF for school children.
The theme of the celebration is, “Creating Safe Spaces for Children: Our Collective Responsibility.”
Adam said that Kaduna has a large population of children who hawk and beg for arms.
“On the streets of Kaduna, you will see a huge population of children hawking and begging for alms instead of being in school where they should be.
“I commended the state government for launching end violence against children campaign and domesticating of Child’s Rights Act.
“I want to reiterate here that UNICEF is determine to mobilise resources to support the state get all children back to school and tackle all forms of violence against children, “Adam said.
He said that the Children’s Day celebration provided an excellent opportunity to speak out on behalf of all the vulnerable and deprived children in Kaduna State and the country.
“UNICEF will continue to partner relevant institutions and private organisations to ensure that children access their rights to enable them grow as they should.
“We shall continue to expand our collaboration with Kaduna State Government to champion the course and rights of children.
“We are out to change the narrative for children by tackling their problems from all angles, by developing protective laws, promoting services, and adequate budgetary allocation and release and raising the needed awareness, “Adam added.
He thanked Fifth Chukker, Access Bank, and other relevant stakeholders who are supporting to put smiles on children’s face
Hajiya Hafsat Baba, Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, who spoke, reiterated government’s commitment to the protection of children’s right.
She explained that the state has domesticated the Child’s Rights Act, adding that plans are on to establish additional three sexual assault centres, and three children homes.
Baba said that all these were part of effort to protect the interest of the child.
The commissioner thanked UNICEF and other development partners for supporting the state in ensuring children’s survival and uninterrupted development to adulthood.
One of the children, Hafsat El-Rufa’i of Al-amanah Academy, express joy for being part of the celebration and thanked UNICEF for sponsoring the programme.
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UNICEF raises alarm over Female Genital Mutilation practices in Ekiti
The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Ekiti State Government have decried the increasing rate of Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM) in the state.
They, however, said that it would take collective efforts from all stakeholders to curb the menace.
UNICEF and the state government made this known at the end of the stakeholders meeting of the State Technical Committee on FGM in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.
UNICEF Consultant on FGM for Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Mrs Aderonke Olutayo, said the agency would render technical support to assist the state government to eliminate the practice in the state.
She commended government determination to prosecute those who perpetrated the act and stressed the need for a legal backing and policy framework to fight the ugly practice.
Olutayo said that the state recorded about 72 per cent in the state, noting that female children between the ages of zero and 14 were victims.
The consultant also noted that some female teenagers and adults, even up to the marriageable age were also circumcised.
She identified cultural and traditional beliefs as being responsible for the practice pointing out that some people saw it as a family heritage which must be stopped.
“Some of those who perform the genital mutilation are unskilled. They do it with primitive and unsterilised equipment and do damage to human parts.
“The World Health Organisation had a law prohibiting this practice and it has been domesticated in Nigeria, particularly in Ekiti State.
“I want to appeal that the laws must be implemented to protect the lives of our women,” she said.
Declaring open the technical committee meeting, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Olurotimi Ojo, decried the prevalence rate of the female genital mutilation in the state.
The commissioner was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ayotunde Omole.
He charged members of the committee to join hand with government in eradicating the menace in the state.
According to him, the practice which is prevalent in the rural areas must be nipped in the bud with concerted efforts from officials of Primary Healthcare because of their proximity to the grassroots.
He said that over 72 per cent cases were reported in Ekiti, ranking the state high in the prevalence of the harmful practice and urged stakeholders to join in the campaign against the act.
He pointed out that FGM had done more harm to women that had been cut, saying the victims were either carrying lifetime infectious diseases like HIV, barrenness, hemorrhage, broken home due to sexual non-satisfaction and other associated problems.
The commissioner said the programme was meant to mobilise the younger generation against the practice and identify ways to end the practice.
He described genital mutilation as “a flagrant infringement of the rights of the female gender,” and urged the government at all levels to stop the menace in the overall interest of motherhood.
The commissioner explained that the state had domesticated the law banning the practice in the state and warned that anyone caught still engaging in the practice would be prosecuted.
He charged the womenfolk, whom he described as “the real victims” to intensify their campaign against cutting of the female genitals, to create more awareness.
In his remarks, the UNICEF Consultant on FGM/C for Ebonyi and Imo states, Mr Ben Mbakwem, charged the participants to see the campaign against FGM as an activism to rescue women from an unprofitable traditional practice.
He said that all efforts should be mobilised to eliminate the practice in the state.
The meeting was attended by stakeholders from the UNICEF, National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigeria Police, NSCDC, Media, trade union and professional organizations and Non Governmental Organisations.
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HIV/AIDS campaign: UNICEF seeks more involvement of traditional rulers
UNICEF has called for more involvement of traditional rulers to help reduce the prevelance of HIV and AIDS among adolescent and young persons in Kaduna State.
Representative of UNICEF Adolescent and Intervention Programme (AYP), Alhaji Idris Baba, made the appeal during a stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Kaduna.
Baba said “with AYP we realise the need to involve other stakeholders within the communities like traditional rulers, religious leaders and policy markers.
He said UNICEF had been actively working around HIV interventions focusing around young persons in the state.
According to him, the priority areas around the state includes Jaba, Jamaa, Lere, Igabi, Chikun and Birnin Gwari local government areas.
Baba said the areas were priotiesed based identified factors including behavioural peculiarities, socio-economic activities and educational levels.
According to him, from the beginning of the intervention programme in 2017 last year, UNICEF have been carrying out regular reviews with aims of making adjustments on the intervention services were they are needed.
He explained that the meeting was designed to rub minds, introduce other intervention learning interventions of international perspective to the state, saying the more sharper the better results”.
The Executive Secretary, KADSACA, Mr David Anthony, said there was very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in about three per cent of young people leaving with the virus in the state.
“The virus prevalence rate was higher; almost about three per cent of the general percentage,” Anthony said.
According to him, by 2014 about 19,000 adolescents and young people do not know their HIV and AIDS status as only adults responded.
He noted that the young persons were subdued under the response programme which resulted to the high prevalence among them.
The scribe said that the introduction of global best practices and new intervention strategies encouraged young persons to embrace the response programme beginning with Jaba and Jamaa local government areas .
He said adolescents and young persons between the age of 10 and 24 were trained to provide HIV services,
counselling and testing through personal communication and mobile HTC programme.“Also youth friendly facilities were provide for HIV and testing in the two local government areas which was later scale up to seven.”
He stressed the need to ensure that critical stakeholders were involved in the response to see how they can support apart from providing moral support to see that the young reach out to young persons in these communities and ensure that have access to this service.
“We were able to train over 300 demand creators who able to mobilised about 362 adolescents and young persons who have been able to access HIV testing services.
“Out of those that were reached with interpersonal communication over 79 per cent were tested and about 273 of them were found positive.
“If you look at this you have prevalence rate of 0.3 per cent as against the high rate,” he said.
He called for further involvement of all the 23 local government areas to ensure that they adopt the strategies aimed at making antiretroviral drugs available to adolescents and young persons at designated facilities.
According to him, the state government had procured the antiretroviral drugs to ensure they are available within those communities.
Mr Iliya Bako, who represented Jaba Local Government traditional council, said traditional rulers normally hold meetings every Friday with emphasis to district heads to sensitise youths on the dangers of HIV and Aids.
He said the traditional institution has been carrying sensitisation to churches and mosques and other public places.
He attributed the initial prevalence of HIV and AIDS in his area to lack of awareness, saying “but now that the awareness has come the prevalence rate is down seriously”.
Bako added that “because of this awareness people don’t stigmatise those leaving with HIV and AIDS” anymore.
Over 3m people living with HIV in Nigeria – USAIDS
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Delta Economic Team facilitates signing of MoU for 15 projects – Commissioner
Dr Kingsley Emu, Delta Commissioner for Economic Planning, has said that the state’s economic management team facilitated the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for 15 projects.
Emu said this at the annual ministerial news briefing organised by the state Ministry of Information on Thursday in Asaba.
Emu said that the MoUs were signed for various projects, which include the Agro industrial Park, Delta Rest Park, Mechanic village, and Norseworthy agro investment Limited.
He noted that some of the MoUs had already received approval and that in the next few months there would be ground breaking ceremonies.
According to the commissioner, the team, which was drawn from the relevant ministries, was able to secure World Bank funding for job creation in the state.
He added that the state government through collaborative arrangements with donor agencies, especially the EU, World Bank, UNDP and UNICEF had coordinated and overseen the implantation and completion of projects targeted at the rural communities.
He said that through the collaboration, a total of 66 projects out of the 84 projects earmarked for implementation under the MPP9 were completed.
Emu said that under the Niger Delta Support programme (NDSP), a total of 23 projects out of the 80 projects earmarked for implantation had been completed.
He added that under UNICEF, the state had been able to develop a four-year State Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (SSPAN).
He said the action plan would ensure that nutrition activities are well articulated and implemented, adding that N100 million had been approved for the action plan.
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Nigeria receives N70m loan for construction of improved toilets – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it has disbursed N70 million to 3,000 households in four states in Nigeria as loan to construct improved toilets, under its Sanitation Marketing Programme.
Mr Amir Syed, the UNICEF International Consultant on Sanitation Marketing, disclosed this in a news conference on Wednesday in Katsina.
According to Syed, the loan is to assist Nigeria attain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by 2025.
The international consultant listed Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi and Benue states as the states that benefited from the loans.
He explained the loan was disbursed through some Micro Finance Institutions (MFI’s) in the participating states.
Syed further said the programme had been extended to Zamfara.
Seyd said 18 local government areas in Nigeria were currently participating in the programme.
The international consultant explained that Toilets Business Owners (TBO’s), trained on toilet technologies were engaged to construct the improved toilets for the affected households.
In his contribution, the Executive Director, Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Alhaji Aminu
Dayyabu, said the programme was being implemented in five local governments in the state.
According to him, the local governments are: Bakori, Mai’adua, Sandamu, Safana and Dutsin-ma.
Dayyabu said that 996 households benefited from the loan package, adding that each household was given N40, 000 loan to construct improved toilet.
Dayyabu said the loan would be repaid within 10 months.
“Households can have such toilets from TBO’s either through their own monies or availing loans from Micro Finance Institutions,’’ he said.
Earlier, Madam Bhawna Maheswari, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Katsina Office, said the project was aimed at providing people with good toilets to prevent them from contracting diseases.
“The programme will provide opportunity for 50 percent of households using unimproved toilets and 30 percent of people practicing open defecation to have improved toilet.
“An improved toilet is supposed to be clean, covered and provide a barrier against diseases,’’ she said.
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UNICEF commends FG over release of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has commended Federal Government efforts at the return of 105 abducted Dapchi school girls in Yobe.
It expressed its delight over the report on return of the girls that were abducted on Feb. 19 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Fall, who noted that the girls would have been exposed to physical and sexual violence, however expressed the commitment of the organisation to collaborate with the Yobe Ministry of Youth to give necessary support to the girls and their families.
He also commended the efforts of concerned authorities and all parties in ensuring the safe return of the girls to their families.
“We are pleased to see that the girls abducted in a school in Dapchi are back in the safe environment of their families.
“UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Youth in Yobe state to provide the necessary support to the girls and their families.
“Over the last one month, the girls may have been exposed to physical and sexual violence.
“They need the support of their families and communities to feel safe and return to school.
“UNICEF is also working with civil society organisations to ensure that each girl receives individual attention from medical treatment to psychosocial support,” Fall said.
He condoled with the parents and families of five girls reported dead.
The UNICEF representative reiterated that schools should be safe spaces and protected at all times.
Fall noted: “Since the start of the insurgency in 2009, over 2,295 teachers have been killed and 19,000 displaced and almost 1,400 schools destroyed.” -
UNICEF seeks Buhari’s support to eradicate child abuse
The United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, to partner with it in championing the rights and educational advancement of Nigerian children.
Mr Mohamed Fall, the Country Representative of UNICEF made the appeal on Saturday at a reception in honour of Buhari as a strong advocate of rights of women and children at the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) in Abuja on Saturday.
The event was jointly organised by the centre and the Blaugrana International Sports, with the theme: “Legends For Children Project”.
The UNICEF presented Buhari with a Global Award of Excellence for Humanitarian Services in recognition of her service to humanity through her pet project the ”Future Assured”.
Fall said the award was relevant considering her efforts in providing support to victims of insurgency, especially the protection of the rights of women and children, who suffered gender-based violence.
He lamented that there were over 10 million out-of-school children in the sub-saharan Africa hence the need for stakeholders, especially the wife of the president to join the campaign and advocate for child enrolment in school.
“We are very excited and overwhelmed that after a rigorous screening, you stood tall among the competitors.
“This is our own way of saying, continue with the good work.
“The UNICEF sees you as a mother of the children in the entire sub-saharan Africa and we urge you to continue in assisting UNICEF to champion the cause of child rights to education in Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, the Buhari pledged to continue her advocacy and support to eradicate all forms of abuse against women and children in the country.
Buhari, who was represented by the wife of the Speaker of House of Representative, Mrs Gimbiya Dogara, said her passion to advance the cause of women and children was borne out of her love to give back the society.
She called on stakeholders to join the campaign against child abuse and promote the enrolment of out-of-school children to ensure brighter future for the younger generation.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Musa Bello, the chief host, said the FCT administration had prioritised the child rights in education by providing necessary infrastructure to primary schools.
He said that the FCT administration would sustain support to the Federal Government in providing basic educational support to meet the UN standard of attaining universal basic education.
The Director-General of the Centre, Mrs Mary Ekpere-Ita, commended the wife of the president for her support to women and children in the country.
Ekpere-Ita called on stakeholders to assist in providing necessary support to women and children to complement government’s efforts in tackling unemployment.
She urged wealthy individuals in the country to support the eradication of all forms of women and child abuse in the country.