By Hajara Usman
The United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) has called for intensified efforts to protect children, who were the most vulnerable population following the cases of abduction in the country.
This is contained in a press statement issued by UNICEF to mark the 10th year of Chibok school Girls abduction.
According to UNICEF, a recent report indicates that only 37 per cent of schools across 10 states have early warning systems in place to identify threats, such as school attacks.
“As Nigeria marks 10 years since the mass Chibok abductions in the Northeast, 90 girls remain in captivity, and the country is recovering from another abduction of schoolchildren in Kaduna State in March of this year.
” UNICEF is calling for intensified efforts to protect the country’s most vulnerable population—its children.
“The kidnapping of the Chibok girls was a wake-up call to the severe risks our children face in their pursuit of education.
“Today we are reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s futures must be amplified.
” Given these alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis.
” Education is a fundamental right and a crucial pathway out of poverty. Yet, for too many Nigerian children, it remains an unattainable dream. Said UNICEF country representative.
According to the statement, Borno State has demonstrated strong commitment in the implementation of safe school standards with a 70 per cent fulfilment of the standards, exemplifies a strong commitment to child safety amidst adversity.
Also, Yobe State demonstrates promising progress while in contrast, Kaduna and Sokoto states lag significantly, with fulfilment rates at just 25 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.
Also, on the finding on early warning systems and conflict, the report shows that while schools perform relatively well in terms of training school-based management committees on safety and responding to children’s well-being concerns, only 14 per cent of the participating schools across the 10 assessed states have functioning, safe, accessible infrastructure and just 36 per cent have school staff trained on natural hazards.
The report further revealed that, in the last 10 years, conflict-related violence has led to more than 1,680 children abducted while at school and elsewhere; 180 children killed due to attacks on schools.
“An estimated 60 school staff kidnapped and 14 killed, and more than 70 attacks on schools, according to verified reports by the United Nations,” the statement added.
The report added that, threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
” As of 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school, and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks, according to Policy Weekly by Nextier.
” UNICEF Nigeria is calling for the government, partners, and the international community to take decisive action to:
” Ensure all schools across all states have the resources and tools to fully implement the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, focusing on the most vulnerable regions.
” Address critical gaps in safe school infrastructure, preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts, and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
” Strengthen law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abductions.
Prioritize education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to1 create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children.
“Ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programmes and through digital platforms like the Nigeria Learning Passport,” statement added.
UNICEF further assured it’s commitment to work with the government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environments
The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 states
” It also provides school grants, safety kits, training, and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose right to education has been compromised, let this somber anniversary serve as a catalyst for change,” the statement added.