As part of activities to commemorate the Day of the African Child 2025, UNICEF has urged the Kaduna government to invest more in children to achieve a greater impact.

Gerida Birukila, UNICEF chief of field office in Kaduna, made the call at a high-level stakeholder engagement organised by the Budget and Planning Commission with the support of UNICEF on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Ms Birukila reminded the audience of the historical roots of the day, commemorating the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa.

She, therefore, highlighted ongoing challenges children were facing in the state, including high out-of-school rates, low birth registration, and severe multidimensional poverty.

According to her, child welfare indicators in Kaduna remain troubling.

Ms Birukila disclosed that nearly 30 per cent of primary school-age children and over 50 per cent of those in secondary school are out of school.

She also reported that only 54.5 per cent of children under five have birth registration, while just 41 per cent of infants receive exclusive breastfeeding.

While commending recent increases in budget allocations toward education, health, and social protection, Birukila stressed the need for greater impact.

The head of the commission, Mukhtar Ahmed, outlined the event’s objectives as increasing political will for allocating resources to child-focused services.

According to him, it is also aimed at raising awareness about child-friendly budgeting and promoting children’s participation in financial planning.

Mr Ahmed also announced the airing of student-hosted television and radio programmes to amplify the day’s messages further.

(NAN)