UNICEF calls for govt. intervention to mitigate violence against children in Nigeria

By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos

United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF on Wednesday called for a strong need for increased funding of interventions by government to prevent and respond to violence against children .
Amos Kudzala officer in charge UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi office made this known while speaking in Jos at the launch of the reports of financial benchmark and economic burden of violence against children in Plateau and Gombe States .

“There is a huge financial loss from the cumulative loss of earnings due to loss of productively ,steering from sufferings associate with different degrees of violence , over time .”
Represented by Mrs Ladi Alabi ,the Child protection Specialist Bauchi office , Kudzala said Plateau and Gombe state are two of the four states in which UNICEF has worked very closely with the Government of Nigeria in child protection system strengthening CPSS , the launch of the reports affords the opportunity to know first hand ,what we are putting into child protection as well as the high economic cost of violence against children in Nigeria .
The launch automatically refers us back to the 2014 National survey from which key findings emerged amongst which are that 60 percent of Nigerian children suffer one of either physical , emotional or sexual violence and that 50 percent suffer from physical violence .
As part of the wake up call , President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2015 declared a National campaign to end Violence against children VAC in Nigeria by the year 2030 impressively both Plateau and Gombe states responded with state launches in 2016 and 2017 respectively , in further support of the long process to get to the 2030 target , UNICEF supported both the Ministry of budget and National planning in collaboration with federal ministry of women affairs and social development to conduct complementary studies .
He further said that ” As 2018 presents another opportunity to us to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN convention on the rights of the child (CRC),it has become critically imperative for all of us to join hands together to protect the children of Nigeria ,in particular Plateau and Gombe state from violence ,abuse and neglect through preventive and effective response measures and services that will protect children from violence ,both States are already embarking on this journey and I am certain we will push harder than ever to end violence ,exploitation and abuse against children as a core duty to children .
Speaking earlier Plateau state Government said the Simon Lalong led administration has put in place an effective system to safeguard the safety and welfare of children in the state .

Permanent Secretary of Plateau state Ministry of Health Mrs Hassana Aiyika said “Plateau was one of the first states to domesticate the Child Rights Law;

” child protection is critical to every nation’s development and that the state government was committed to creating the enabling environment for children to also access quality and affordable education.

“We want to create a safe space for them to develop free from danger, uphold their dignity and not subjected to any form of discrimination .

She commended Governor Simon Lalong for making budgetary provisions that would better the lives of children in the state .

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UNICEF Calls for Government Intervention to Mitigate Violence Against Children in Nigeria