The United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) says 69.2% of children in Kano State are multi-dimensionally poor.

Fatima Musa, a social policy specialist with the UNICEF Kano Field Office, disclosed this in her presentation during a media dialogue on Friday in Zaria.

The media dialogue is on Children’s Advocacy Priorities for News and Programme Managers from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

Ms Musa explained that 69.2 per cent of newborns to 17-year-olds were defined as multi-dimensionally poor, while 59.5 per cent of children of newborns to 17 years were monetarily poor in Kano.

“Across the geo-political zones, the child MPI shows higher poverty in the North-East and North-West (where 90 per cent of children are poor) and lower poverty in the South-East and South-West (74 per cent and 65.1 per cent, respectively).

“The incidence of child MPI is above 50 per cent in all states and greater than 95 per cent in Bayelsa, Gombe, Sokoto and Kebbi states. UN Convention on the Rights of Children provides for a child under the age of 18; the primary role of parents and family in the care and protection with state’s obligation to help them to carry out their duties,” she said.

The social policy specialist who raised the alarm over the increased child poverty in Nigeria called on governments at all levels to increase budgetary allocation for children-focused interventions.

According to her, the menace can be reduced by providing quality education, water, good healthcare services, access to good shelter, child protection and social safety nets.

She also lauded Katsina and Kano states for accepting Universal Child Benefits and expressing interest in piloting it.

According to the specialist, the development came at the right time, as it’s aimed at addressing child poverty.

Samuel Kaalu, UNICEF communication specialist in Kano, called on media practitioners in the country to focus more on issues affecting women’s and children’s well-being in their reportage.

Mr Kaalu also urged them to give adequate attention to the issue of violence against children to ensure proper enlightenment of the public against the phenomenon.

The communication specialist said violence against children occurring in homes and communities usually go on unnoticed or denied.

He further called for more support from the media in sensitising the public to the importance of enrolling children in school. 

(NAN)