Children in Kano have urged the government to prioritise education and improve healthcare access for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
They also called for safer learning environments and the provision of adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
The children made the appeal during a panel discussion to commemorate World Children’s Day, organised by the Kano Radio Corporation in collaboration with the UNICEF Kano Field Office.
The discussions covered issues such as gender equality, ending trafficking and cyber violence, and creating community awareness on protecting dignity on social media
The children commended the Kano State Government for its efforts in improving education, including removing barriers to learning, recruiting more teachers, enhancing security in schools and providing teaching and learning materials.
Speaking on the role of government in ensuring the wellbeing of children in Kano State, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, said “UNICEF has continued to support the protection of children’s rights in the state.”
He said that “UNICEF also provides technical and financial assistance and works with civil society organisations to strengthen child protection systems.”
According to him, “the integration of Qur’anic schools into the formal education system, carried out in partnership with the state government, has contributed to reducing the number of out-of-school children.”
On his part, the Director of Research and Statistics, Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, Alhaji Zubair Abdulmumin, highlighted the empowerment of 400 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, ongoing psychosocial support, and the training of community-based structures on child protection.
Media representative, Mr Kola Oyelere of the Nigerian Tribune, acknowledged the role of the media in improving children’s wellbeing, noting “the increased acceptance of polio immunisation campaigns in the state.”