UNICEF To Mobilise Youths For Campaign To Reduce Out-Of-School Children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said it will mobilise youths in 14 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to embark an advocacy campaign aimed at reducing the high rate of out-of-school children in the country, which is put at 10.5 million.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Bhanu Pathak, stated this in a good will message during a one-day Youth Advocacy and Mobilisation workshop as part of activities marking the Day of the African Child, organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the High Level Women Advocacy (HILWA), in collaboration with UNICEF with theme: “Increased access to safe and quality education for every Nigerian child, especially girls,” held in Bauchi.

Represented by the Education Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, Miriam Dikwa, the Chief of Field Office said that mobilisation advocacy efforts is planned to run throughout the year, targeting national and international events as windows for mobilisation, targeted advocacy and campaigns.

He said that strategic engagement would be organised between youths and targeted policy-makers and highly influential persons to get the government to act on their commitment for increased access to safe, quality education for children.

“The advocacy campaign is targeted at all the newly elected government officials at all levels to hold them accountable on their campaign promises to provide equitable access to free, safe, quality education to every child, especially girls in Nigeria.”