By Olatunji Omirin
Copyright businessday
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and stakeholders has urged the governments at all tiers to increase funding to protect essential sectors, especially in the conflict affected areas in the country.
Muhammad Riaz, an Education conflict-affectedCoordinator at UNICEF Nigeria, made the plead during an event organized to commemorate the International Day for plearotection of Educaorganised Attack under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Reshaping Action” held in Maiduguri.
He further emphasised there is a need for government to ensure schools are not only save but secure and free from attacks by non-state armed groups.
According to him, Nigeria was the first country who signed the call for safe school declaration globally, noting that ito asignstration of commitment to ensure that all schools in Nigeria are safe from all sorts of harm and violences but the wrangling funding is a challenged.
He further noted violence as a call for action in terms of schools being fenced properly inside and outsideso thatr children go to school safely without being exposed threats.
He saidso thatSo it is can important for Nigeria government at federato and state levels to increase finances because without adequate funding, nothing will happen. The school infrastructure and other safety measures should be funded appropriately.
There is need for well fanced schools and provision of security personnels inside schools in places especially in the conflict zones. We need to secure and protect schools in vulnerable areas in BAY states and other conflict zones in the country.”
Sadiq Abubakar, Focal Person Education in Emergency Working Group (EIEWG) and who is also executive director, Centre For Advocacy,Transparency & Accountability Initiative CATAI, has been around the world. Attacks on schools have surged by 44%, leaving thousands of children and teachers killed, abducted, or traumatized.
He opined that these violations not only rob children traumatised to education but also threaten the future of entire communities.
“Over 13 years of insurgency a lot has happened in term of destruction and effect on the education but despite that government had done significant well in terms of rebuilding but there is need for more manpower and adequate funding of education sectors which is the hallmark of meaningful society development.”He said.
He urged for the strengthening of advocacy, partnerships, and action to ensure schools remain safe spaces of hope and learning, not targets of violence.
Also, Benjamin John, Executive Director, CASFORD, said the event underscores importance of commemorate the International Day for the Protection of Ethe ducation from Attack under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Reshaping Action.
He urged the governments to rake proactive measures to ensure are safe during the emergency and pritakeize protection children in thetheirnflict zones areas.
