The United Nations Children’s Fund, on Tuesday, lamented that 12 Local Council Areas in Borno and Yobe States had been recording high numbers of unvaccinated children, urging stakeholders to ensure they receive deserved attention.
Speaking during a media briefing in Maiduguri as part of activities to commemorate 2025 Children Day, Joseph Senesie, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF, Maiduguri Field Office, while highlighting other challenges facing children in the region.
He emphasised the need to prioritise quality education, sanitation, nutrition, health, and protection of children to enhance a greater future for them as highlighted in this year’s Children Day theme: “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure.”
“We must ask ourselves: Are we truly unlocking the potential of our children, our untapped treasures? Are we dismantling the barriers to their growth and safeguarding their future?”
The UNICEF boss said ,”Only 3 in 10 children have their birth registered in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, adding that 12 local government areas in Borno and Yobe continue to record high numbers of unvaccinated children.
“Several indicators remind us that urgent work remains. For instance, only 3 in 10 children across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa have their births registered, denying them legal identity and access to healthcare, education, and protection services”.
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“Twelve local government areas in Borno and Yobe continue to record high numbers of unvaccinated children, making them vulnerable to preventable diseases.
He also said 72 percent of children who completes primary school in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states cannot read “simple texts”
He said, “Despite improvements in school enrollment, an estimated 2 million children remain out of school in the region. Moreover, 72% of children who complete primary school cannot read simple texts, and only 62% transition to junior secondary school”.
Senesie however noted that UNICEF had played critical roles in ensuring children’s safety through vaccine and immunisation services
“In 2024, with the support of partners, UNICEF achieved significant milestones, including treating nearly 600,000 children for severe acute malnutrition, reaching 2.48 million children under 5 years with vitamin A supplementation, and immunizing 1.2 million children with the pentavalent vaccine,” he said
Senesie commended the state governments across North east for their efforts in child protection and health safety
“I commend the governments in northeast Nigeria for achieving key milestones, including the implementation of the Child Protection Law, open defecation-free declarations in five local government areas. N100 million contributions from Borno State to the Child Nutrition Fund, and the inauguration of 27 Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition in Borno State.
“These actions demonstrate political will and leadership. However, we must maintain and build on this momentum. Let us seize this moment to tackle barriers to nutrition, immunization, birth registration, education, child protection, water, and sanitation.” he stated
He further expressed appreciation to partners, including BMZ/Germany, FCDO/UK Government, SIDA, EU, Norway, Canada, GPE, ECW, and others, for their continued support.
