The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe made the call during a One Day Multi Zonal Press Conference on the 2024 International Day of Education held in Enugu with the theme; “Learning For Lasting Peace,”
While recalling several attacks on education facilities and kidnapping of children, she said the incidents in Borno and Yobe states in 2023 called for urgent action to end the learning crisis.
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate the vital role of education in fostering lasting peace, but also to acknowledge the profound challenges that confront our world and impact the lives of those most vulnerable among us.
The UNICEF Chief Officer added that education should be made a reality for every child, including those with disabilities and adolescent girls.
She said In a bid to ending the learning crisis, stakeholders should ensure to strengthen learning outcomes and accelerate skills development.
In addition, Chiluwe stated, ” We must increase resources allocated to education, advocate for debt swaps, and enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of spending to ensure that no chid is left behind.
“The International Day of Education serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of education in building peaceful societies. It underscores the critical need for accessible and equitable quality education, especially during times of crisis, as we strive to uplift the hearts and minds of all individuals.
“The theme for this year. “Learning for Lasting Peace,” carries a weighty significance. It speaks to the enduring power of education as a tool for preventing, building, and sustaining peace. This theme us to recognize the indispensable role education plays before, during, and after conflicts, with a particular emphasis on ensuring continuity for those who are marginalized.
“Education becomes a beacon, reducing inequities, injustices, and inequalities, while nurturing the cognitive, social, and emotional skills essential for safeguarding peace.”
She said faced with the daunting global challenges of climate change, violence and others , education “emerged as a beacon of hope.”
“The objectives for UNICEF Nigeria resonate deeply with the heart of our mission: delivering on commitments, ending the learning crisis, ensuring sale learning environments, and advocating for increased domestic and international financing for education. To achieve these objectives, it is imperative that we embrace a deep commitment to strengthen learning outcomes, accelerate skills development, and ensure that education is a beacon accessible to all, particularly those on the fringes of society.” UNICEF Enugu Chief Officer stressed.
