UNICEF raises alarm over rising child poverty in Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the increasing number of Nigerian children living in poverty.

The 2020 Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis report, according to UNICEF, indicates that over 47 million Nigerian children, accounting for approximately 47.4 percent of the child population, are currently living in poverty.

Speaking on Wednesday at a strategic policy dialogue on social budgeting for child-sensitive sectors in Gombe State,
the UNICEF Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Mohammed Kamfut, revealed that these children are living in households earning less than the national poverty line of N137,430 annually.

Kamfut noted that the report highlights the severe economic hardships facing millions of Nigerian families, disproportionately affecting the nation’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Calling for immediate action to address the worsening child poverty crisis, especially in the North-East region of the country, UNICEF, through Kamfut, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing children’s rights by ensuring they have the resources necessary to survive, grow and thrive.

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Referencing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, he noted that while progress has been made in reducing poverty since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, millions of children worldwide remain trapped in a cycle of deprivation.

Kamfut, who was represented by the
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Social Policy Specialist, Dr. Yusuf Auta, said the organization acknowledged the significant strides made in improving children’s living conditions since the MDGs’ inception.

He however lamented that many of the world’s poorest children continue to be left behind, stating that poverty infringes upon children’s human rights and perpetuates a relentless cycle of deprivation.

“The ongoing dialogue is essential to advocating for increased government support for child welfare initiatives,” he said.

The UN agency pledged to contribute to the full realization of children’s rights by advocating for improved budgeting and funding for child-responsive programs.

These efforts, according to UNICEF, will help alleviate the poverty that stands as a major barrier to achieving the rights of all children.

“I am hopeful that we will achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ending preventable child deaths, ensuring quality basic education for all children, and protecting children from violence if we make a concerted effort,” Kamfut stated.