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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have expressed concern over the return of children affected by a decade-long violence in Nigeria’s northeast states to school.
UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Phuong Nguyen expressed the organisation’s concern in Maiduguri yesterday at a media dialogue organize to amplify the impact of a special education programme for the northeast; Global Partnership for Education Accelerated Funding project.
“The challenges of out-of-school children and the learning crises in the education sector, remain issues that UNICEF and stakeholders are working to ensure that every children has the opportunity that education confers and be equipped with skills to survive and contribute positively to the society,” Nguyen disclosed.
She said about 1.9 million boys , girls and youths affected by the violence in the northeast do not have access to basic quality education. She said rhs figure included 56 percent of all displaced children who are out-of-school.
Armed conflict- insurgency, in northeast since 2009, has affected civilians who are living precarious condition, UNICeF said in a report.
The global body said destruction of classroomsy schools and trauma have further cut off access of thousands of children to education.
A Unicef education specialist, Lincoln Ajoku urged journalists to partner with other stakeholders to turn things around.
“Education is the destiny of this country,” he declared.
The media dialogue was attended by journalists from northeast and some parts of the country.
The Global Partnership for Education funding project was designed to improve teaching and learning skills in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states affected by insurgency.
