The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office states that Nigeria is vulnerable to a range of climate hazards affecting child health and education development.

Cynthia Rowe, FCDO’s director of development, said this on Monday during the handing-over ceremony of a school and health facility under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services project, at Chamo community in Dutse LGA, Jigawa. 

Ms Rowe said Nigeria ranked second among countries where children face the highest climate-related risks, directly threatening their ability to survive, grow, learn, and fulfil their potential.

She said the CRIBS project was being implemented in a joint collaboration between UNICEF, FCDO, Kano, and Jigawa.

Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF country representative, stated that the project was designed to mitigate climate-related hazards affecting children.

She pledged continuing support to Jigawa in view of the commitment displayed by Gov. Umar Namadi’s administration to improve the lives of women and children in the state.

Ms Saeed said the UN agency, in partnership with partners, developed an innovative project to mitigate climate hazards on child development. 

The UNICEF official also commended the Jigawa government for sustaining the campaign against open defecation by providing public toilets for the citizens. 

She said UNICEF helped Jigawa to reduce the number of out-of-school children, stressing that such efforts would address the menace.

Also, Mr Namadi lauded the development partners for their support to the state, describing it as “an innovative strategy to tackle climate change.”

According to Mr Namadi, Jigawa is among the states with a high risk of natural disasters, such as flooding and drought, which affect schools and health facilities.

He pledged support to development partners to improve the well-being of children and women, fostering sustainable social and economic development. 

(NAN)