UNICEF stepping up efforts towards equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth in Northern Nigeria – Says Malick-Fall
(Mohammed Malick-Fall)
Country Representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick-Fall said his organisation is taking significant steps toward achieving equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth in Northern Nigeria.
He stated this during a high level interactive Social Policy Workshop on strengthening capacity that will ensure sustainability for Child targeted programmes in Northern Nigeria held in Kano, Kano State Northwest Nigeria.
Malick-Fall was of the view that, this fit could be arrived at by promoting a common understanding on social inclusion and developing a joint approach for designing and implementing strategies to advance the Children’s rights.
According to him, UNICEF would continue to partner all the states and provide support in the field of social inclusion including social policy, gender and adolescent participation so as to achieve the targeted objective.
He believed “we can make a positive change and when Nigeria succeeds, the region and entire continent has the potential to succeed and ensure no child is left behind.
“Reversing the current trend in Nigeria requires child-centred social policies, budget and laws. Every child has the right to survive, grow, develop and participate.”
UNICEF Rep further said, developing social policies toward providing equitable and comprehensive services to vulnerable children were necessary for exercising those rights
“Iam delighted to see representation from the 19 Northern states in this venue committed to taking this critical step,”Malick-Fall exited.
He was happy with Bauchi State government for appropriating 15.23 percent of its total 2018 budget toward health, thus meeting the African Union 2001 health financing agreement.
He equally lauded Sokoto State government for implementing the cash transfer programme which focused on girl-child education to close gender gaps in public primary school enrolment and attendance in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje represented by the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Hajiya Aisha Jafar-Yusuf said, the state government had initiated various policies and programmes aimed at empowering and improving the socio-economic status of the citizens.
The workshop was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, was aimed at strengthening states capacity in ensuring sustainability of results for Children via social policy.