UNICEF calls for climate action to protect Nigerian children

As FG scores self high in child rights promotion

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for immediate and collaborative action to address the impacts of climate change on children in Nigeria.

Speaking during an event to mark Universal Children’s Day, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office for South-West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised the need for government, the private sector, and community involvement to ensure a healthy planet for every child.

According to her, at this year’s World Children’s day, UNICEF focuses on climate change and its impact on children.

Lafoucriere highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that Nigeria was among the three countries most affected by climate change globally.

He said: “It is the right of every child to live on a healthy planet and to be protected from the effects of climate change.”

“Children are not just our future; they are also our present. They need to be given a voice. Today, we’ve seen their creativity and their early involvement in climate action. Perhaps we adults need to become a little more enlightened.”

Lafoucriere underscored the importance of empowering children by providing them with the right environment to survive and thrive.

UNICEF spoke just as the Federal Government said Nigeria had made giant strides in the promotion of the rights of children across the country and in ensuring their welfare through the domestication and adoption of the Child Rights Act (CRA), and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA).

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan, made the claim, yesterday, in a statement marking the Universal Children’s Day.

She said: “As Nigeria joins the global community in commemorating Universal Children’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety, rights, and well-being of every Nigerian child.

This year’s theme, ‘Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future,’ is both a call to action and a celebration of the progress we have made in upholding the rights of our children.”

Highlighting progress made by Nigeria, she said the domestication of the CRA 2003, across all the states in Nigeria remained a pivotal step towards the protection of Nigerians.

ALSO, the Borno State Government and UNICEF have expressed their commitment to the rights of children.

UNICEF Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, Dr Gerida Birukila, spoke yesterday, to mark the Children’s Day in Maiduguri.

Addressing children at the state House of Assembly, she said: “I sincerely appreciate the Speaker and members of the Assembly for the opportunity given to our child to be a one-day Speaker and members of this honorable House,”

She stated that the state Assembly would continue to stand up for the protection of children’s rights.

MEANWHILE, telecommunications firm, Airtel Africa, has disclosed that its five-year partnership with UNICEF, aimed at transforming education across the continent, has connected over 1,500 schools to the Internet, trained 17,000 teachers, and reached nearly a million learners with quality digital education resources across 13 African countries.

The partnership was launched in 2021 as part of Airtel Africa’s $57 million commitment to support the development of education and bridge the digital divide for vulnerable children in remote communities in collaboration with African governments.

Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, speaking on the success of the partnership while marking this year’s Universal Children’s Day, said: “Our mission is to transform lives, and through our collaboration with UNICEF, we are witnessing the profound impact that connectivity and digital resources can have on Africa’s children and teachers. For every school we have connected and for each teacher trained on using these digital tools, we are taking tangible steps toward realising our commitment to bridging the digital divide, advancing educational equality and restating our commitment to the relentless pursuit of a better future for African children on the continent.”