UNICEF, Media Collaborate to Reduce out-of-School Children in Nasarawa

Igbawase Ukumba

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Kaduna Field Office has expressed readiness to collaborate with media practitioners to reduce out-of-school children and Community Learning Approach in Nasarawa State.

Consequently, UNICEF recently organised a one-day dialogue with the media practitioners operating in Nasarawa State on its Back to School and Safe School Campaigns in the state.

The Chief of UNICEF Kaduna Office, Mr Zachary Adam, in his goodwill message during the one-day media dialogue in Lafia, expressed the readiness of UNICEF to collaborate with the media on its Back to School and Safe School Campaigns in Nasarawa.

He added that UNICEF was currently partnering with governments of four states of Kaduna, Niger, Kwara and Nasarawa on the Back to School and Safe School Campaign towards ensuring zero out of school-related cases.

“I assure you of partnership with UNICEF so that we can achieve results and take advantage of very few initiatives that are ongoing to improve our education in a way that the system absorbs 100 per cent of children, irrespective of their cultural background and social position, whether they are from rich or poor families,” said Adam. “If we achieve the objective of bringing our daughters and boys to school, we can be fully assured that this school target development that we are aiming at achieving for Nasarawa and Nigeria will become a reality.”

Speaking also during the media dialogue, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Mohammed Bala, said the state government with UNICEF would partner the media to achieve the objectives of the campaign.

He explained that the campaign was in line with the priority of the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration to improve school enrolment of children, especially in rural communities.

On his part, the Education Officer of Kaduna UNICEF Office, Mr Francis Elisha, said UNICEF was currently working with traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders in Lafia and Nasarawa LGAs to ensure that all children were back to school irrespective of their social status.

Elisha said the partnership aimed to build collective responsibility and support on Back-to-School Campaigns and School Safety in the state.

He added: “Under the Back-to-School and Safe School Campaigns, UNICEF is currently working in two local government areas, with plans to extend it to the remaining LGAs of the state.