UNICEF Urges Media Action Against Child Poverty in Northern Nigeria
Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the media to leverage their vast reach to raise awareness on the critical issue of child poverty in Nigeria’s Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe States.
The urgency of addressing child poverty was underscored during a comprehensive two-day media dialogue, attended by UNICEF technical experts and government representatives from Bauchi and Gombe States.
Child poverty, defined as the deprivation of basic consumption needs for children, was examined from various dimensions, including its monetary aspects and its profound implications on national and regional socio-economic development.
Journalists were briefed on the multifaceted nature of child poverty and the potential threats it poses to the well-being and future of children. With Nigerian children constituting over half of the country’s population, they were emphasised as a vital asset for the nation’s future prosperity.
Resource persons highlighted the critical role of the media in amplifying children’s voices and fostering public and policy action. Dr. Yusuf Auta, a Social Policy Specialist at the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, stressed the importance of measuring child poverty through both monetary and multidimensional lenses, encompassing rights to survival, health, education, and more.
The Communications Officer, Mr. Opeyemi Olagunju, emphasised that the participants were anticipated to gain comprehensive insights into child poverty through the training. Armed with this knowledge, they are tasked with leveraging their respective media platforms to catalyse public and policy action aimed at addressing child poverty in the Bauchi Field Office region.
UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to tackle child poverty in the region were outlined, including the development of situational analyses, social protection policies, and targeted interventions in education, health, and nutrition.
“Supporting the targeting of the most poor and vulnerable households into the State Social Register. Strengthening the capacity of technocrats in implementing pro-poor interventions. Providing various interventions in Education, Health, WASH, Child Protection, Nutrition, Budgeting, M&E, etc,” Dr. Auta said.
Dr. Auta further outlined key strategies for reducing child poverty, such as creating employment opportunities, investing in agriculture, and implementing targeted cash transfer initiatives.
“Improve production; skills acquisition, heavy investment in Agriculture, Providing incentives to the private sector; and Targeted cash transfers & Cash-Plus Initiatives,” he said.
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The impact of child poverty on Nigeria’s socio-economic development was emphasized by Dr. Ali Madina Dankumo from the Federal University, Kashere. He highlighted its adverse effects on healthcare access, education, and economic productivity.
Citing data from the Nigerian Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for the year 2022, Dr. Dankumo highlighted how these indicators serve as significant barriers to enhancing public health outcomes.
According to the data, Dr. Dankumo revealed a staggering statistic: over 67 million children in Nigeria are deprived of access to essential healthcare services, underscoring the urgent need for intervention in this crucial sector.
Shifting the focus to education, Dr. Dankumo elucidated how child poverty erects formidable barriers to quality education. With many children lacking resources for school fees, uniforms, books, and transportation, a vicious cycle of poverty is perpetuated. Education, which serves as a potent tool for breaking this cycle, remains elusive for countless children due to these financial constraints.
“Limited education opportunities hinder the development of a skilled workforce (HCD), which is essential for economic growth and competitiveness. 20 M children are not in school (UNESCO, 2023),” he said.
Dr. Dankumo emphasized that children raised in poverty face diminished opportunities for acquiring the skills necessary for lucrative employment, ultimately leading to decreased contributions to the economy throughout their lives, thereby hampering overall productivity and economic growth.
However, he noted that journalists can play a pivotal role in mitigating these effects by raising awareness of the causes, consequences, and prevalence of child poverty through various means such as investigative journalism, documentaries, advocacy, and positive narratives.
Journalists, inspired by the dialogue, who spoke with Voice of Nigeria (VON), pledged to utilize their platforms to raise awareness and advocate for action against child poverty. Recognizing their role as agents of change, they vowed to promote access to basic necessities for children, thus contributing to a brighter future for Nigeria.
