Health
Insecurity: UNICEF Estimates 1m Children Afraid to Return to School
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says school attacks and student abduction in parts of Nigeria have instilled fear among communities stopping at least one million children from returning to school.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, UNICEF said there have been 20 attacks on schools this year, leading to the abduction of 1,436 children, 16 deaths and more than 200 children missing.
“As more than 37 million Nigerian children start the new school year this month, at least one million are being left behind; afraid to return to school due to insecurity.
“Learners are being cut off from their education and other vital benefits schools provide, as families and communities remain fearful of sending children back to their classrooms.
“This is due to the spate of school attacks and student abductions in Nigeria over the last several months and the current climate of insecurity.
“So far this year, there have been 20 attacks on schools in Nigeria, with 1,436 children abducted and 16 children dead. More than 200 children are still missing,” the statement read in part.
It quoted Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, calling for an end to insecurity as it increases the risk of children never stepping into a classroom.
Hawkins also called on the Federal Government to make its priority of providing a safe space for children to benefit from education clear by addressing insecurity.
“For the most vulnerable children, including children affected by conflict, girl children, and children with disabilities, their risk of never stepping into a classroom in their lifetime is skyrocketing.
“We need to end this insecurity and make our priorities clear, that Nigerian children can and must be allowed to benefit from an education in a safe space.
“A child’s first day of school should be an exciting event for parents and children, a landmark moment in their young lives, signaling new learning and new friends that will impact their futures.
“This moment is being stolen from around a million Nigerian children this year, as insecurity threatens their safety and education,” Hawkins said.
The UN official said that it was unacceptable for communities to be worried to send their children to school for fear of being abducted from an environment that should be a safe space for them.
He also called for an end to the spate of insecurity to enable children to return to their normal lives and benefit from being at school.
Hawkins said that UNICEF and partners around the world were set to join a global ‘digital freeze’ on Sept. 16, to protest children’s inability to access the classroom due to COVID-19 restrictions.
He said that as part of the protest, social media platforms would be frozen to draw attention to the number of children at risk of missing out on an education.
“UNICEF estimates that a return to school has been delayed for an estimated 140 million children globally due to COVID-19.
“For an estimated eight million of these students, the wait for their first day of in-person learning has been over a year and counting, as they live in places where schools have been closed throughout the pandemic.
“In Nigeria, education was delayed for many children due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, along with the additional challenge of school closures due to prevailing insecurity across the country.
“The first day of school is a landmark moment in a child’s life, setting them off on a life-changing path of personal learning and growth,” Hawkins said.
He said that while countries worldwide, including Nigeria, are taking some actions to provide remote learning, many students are not being reached.
Hawkins listed the contributing factors to lack of reachability to include poor access to technology, poor learning environment, pressure to do household chores or being forced to work.
The country representative said studies show that positive school experiences are a predictor of children’s future social, emotional and educational outcomes.
He said that children who fall behind in learning during the early years are, therefore, likely to stay behind for the remaining time they spend in school adding that this gap widens over the years.
“The number of years of education a child receives also directly affects their future earnings. Every hour a child spends in the classroom is precious.
“It is an opportunity to expand their horizons, maximise their potential and build their country’s future.
“With each passing moment, countless amounts of opportunity are lost. We must put our children’s future first.
“We can and must tackle insecurity, stop attacks on education, and keep schools open. The clock is ticking for our young students.” Hawkins said.
He said that unless mitigation measures are implemented, the World Bank estimates a loss of $10 trillion US dollars in earnings over time for the present generation of students globally.
Hawkins said that based on evidence, the cost of addressing learning gaps is lower and more effective when tackled early and investments in education, support economic recovery, growth, and prosperity.
UNICEF urged governments to reopen schools for in-person learning as soon as possible and provide a comprehensive recovery response for students.
Together with the World Bank and UNESCO, UNICEF called on governments to focus on three key priorities for recovery in schools.
These priorities include targeted programmes aimed at bringing all children and youth back to school, effective remedial learning, and support for teachers. (NAN)
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
The Niger State Government has announced plans to recruit up to 5,000 health workers as part of a sweeping reform of its healthcare delivery system, following the commissioning of what it described as the first porta cabin specialist hospital of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.
Governor Umar Bago made the disclosure on Tuesday during the inauguration of the multi-billion-naira twin porta cabin hospital project at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital in Minna.
The Governor said the state would recruit an additional 2,500 medical personnel in the coming months, bringing the total number of health workers employed under his administration to 5,000.
According to him, the initiative is part of a revolutionary healthcare delivery agenda aimed at positioning Niger State as a hub for medical tourism in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bago further revealed that the state government has entered into a bilateral agreement with leading Arab hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, for a medical doctors’ exchange programme. Under the arrangement, between 20 and 50 Egyptian doctors are expected to be deployed to the IBB Specialist Hospital to provide specialised medical services.
He disclosed that the state has already engaged about 20 visiting consultants who are currently performing advanced neurosurgical procedures, including spinal cord and brain surgeries, as well as knee replacement operations.
The newly inaugurated twin porta cabin hospital, located within the premises of the IBB Specialist Hospital, will serve as a temporary take-off facility for the proposed IBB University Teaching Hospital.
Bago described the facility as the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and a strategic investment to bridge gaps in tertiary healthcare services.
“We are deliberate in our healthcare policy. We want to make Niger State the healthcare delivery hub of the North and encourage people to seek medical screening and treatment at home,” the Governor said.
“We want to position Niger State as the prime location for healthcare delivery in the North.”
To complement the investment in tertiary healthcare, the Governor stated that the administration has upgraded 20 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) from Type I to Type II status.
“Currently, we have some of the best Type II PHC models in the country, and we will upgrade an additional 110 centres,” he added.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, commended the Governor for what he described as the largest healthcare renovation and investment drive in the state’s 50-year history, noting that the reforms would significantly improve access to quality healthcare for residents.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged the Red Cross for greater innovation and deployment of technology in humanitarian response in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the call while delivering his goodwill message at the 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos State Branch, at the weekend in Lagos.
The governor, represented by Sesan Ogundeko, the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, advised NRCS to leverage data and digital tools to strengthen emergency management in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who described the AGM as more than a routine gathering, said it was a celebration of compassion, service and humanity spanning 58 years of Red Cross operations in the state.
He noted that with an estimated population of about 20 million people, the state faced increasing pressure from rapid urbanisation, climate change and infrastructural demands.
“In a city as large and fast-growing as Lagos, emergencies are sometimes unavoidable,” he said.
He said these realities made disaster preparedness and emergency response essential, adding that the work of the Red Cross aligned closely with the vision of building a resilient state.
Sanwo-Olu further advised the branch leadership to continue to be innovative, remain transparent and accountable and make good use of technology and data to improve humanitarian response.
According to him, effective governance requires strong partnerships, as the government cannot single-handedly manage the scale of emergencies in a megacity like Lagos.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Red Cross, promoting voluntary blood donations and supporting vulnerable communities across the state.
The governor also made an appeal to residents to become active responders during emergencies rather than passive observers.
He decried a growing culture where some young people record accident scenes for broadcast instead of assisting victims, urging them to choose service over harmful or indifferent behaviour.
“Each one of us can make a difference through simple actions; checking on a neighbour, donating blood, volunteering your time, learning about first aid and supporting those in need,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu envisioned a state where more citizens were prepared to respond in emergencies, and compassion spread as quickly as information online.
He said humanitarian service was not the responsibility of organisations alone but a shared civic duty.
He added that history would not only remember roads and buildings constructed, but also how a society cared for the weak, displaced, sick and forgotten.
The governor commended Red Cross volunteers for their dedication, describing them as everyday heroes who often risk their personal safety to save others.
He praised both young and veteran members for their selfless service.
“When floods displace families, when road accidents occur or when emergencies strike unexpectedly, the Nigerian Red Cross volunteers are often among the first to respond,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated the Lagos State Branch on its 58th AGM and assured members that the requests earlier submitted to the state government would receive a positive response.
Earlier, NRC Lagos chairman, Dr Adebola Kolawole, said the AGM was a pivotal moment for reflection, accountability and strategic renewal to reposition the branch for greater impact.
Kolawole said the branch was committed to becoming financially self-reliant while setting the standard in humanitarian service delivery across Lagos State.
“Our administration remains steadfast in its commitment to repositioning the Lagos State Branch as a beacon of humanitarian excellence,” she said.
She identified sustainability, inclusivity, impact measurement, advocacy and collaboration as key pillars for the branch’s next phase, adding that innovation and strategic partnerships would drive improved service delivery.
While acknowledging financial constraints as a major challenge, Kolawole appealed to government, corporate organisations and individuals for greater support.
She noted that additional resources were required for ambulances, disaster response equipment, personal protective gear for emergency teams and a solar power project to enhance operations at the branch’s facilities.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has commended Plateau Government’s efforts in improving primary healthcare delivery in the state.
Pate gave the commendation in Jos at the graduation ceremony of Cohort 1.0 and the onboarding of Cohort 2.
0 Plateau State National Health Fellows.The minister said that statistics showed that Plateau is making significant strides in primary healthcare through revitalised facilities, budgetary support, and health insurance for vulnerable populations.
Pate, who was represented by Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), said the state was also enhancing planning systems and collaboration to focus on the well-being of mothers, newborns, and children.
The minister stated that at the 2025 National Council on Health, Plateau led in implementing resolutions from the 2024 council, which he said was a feat made possible by strong political will.
According to him, in April 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the National Health Fellowship Programme (NHFP) to enhance accessible and quality healthcare in Nigeria.
He said the initiative selected passionate, altruistic young Nigerians from all the 774 LGAs, building their capacities to drive innovative change in their communities.
“The NHFP symbolises a new Nigeria where talent and competence empower our youth to reach their full potential.
“Throughout the fellowship year, fellows in cohort 1 in Plateau and beyond had collaborated with their communities and health teams to improve coordination, enhance data use, combat maternal and childhood illnesses, address drug abuse, and rebuild trust in health services.
“Their fresh energy and innovative initiatives have significantly bolstered ongoing reforms to enhance service delivery.
“Cohort 1.0 fellows, your work has expanded the technical capacity of teams across the state; you have demonstrated that impactful public service is rooted in empathy, evidence, and commitment to communities,” he commended.
He urged the onboarding cohort 2.0 to build on the solid foundation laid by cohort 1.0, and you carry the responsibility to build on it with renewed excellence.
“Your journey begins at a time when the health system needs stronger data use at every level, deeper collaboration between communities and health teams, creative solutions to service delivery barriers, and unwavering focus on maternal and newborn health outcomes.
“As you join this fellowship, we encourage you to listen to the communities you serve, collaborate with health leadership, innovate for better care and access, and uphold professionalism,“ he urged.
Similarly, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang said that the state NHFP was not just an initiative but a movement.
Mutfwang described the programme as a movement of empowerment, leadership and service that aligned the state with the Federal Government’s National Health Strategic Renewal Investment Initiative and the Primary Health Care Transformation Agenda.
Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, said that this would ensure that the state is not left behind but is marching forward, shoulder to shoulder with the nation, into a new era of health reform.
Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, in his welcome address, said the graduation and onboarding ceremony reaffirmed the state’s collective commitment to strengthening the health system of the state and Nigeria at large.
“The state embraced the vision wholeheartedly, recognising that the health of our people is the foundation upon which every other aspect of development rests.” He said.
Both cohorts consist of 17 persons each, who were gotten from the 17 local government areas of the state.
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