Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has assured that the state government would continue to collaborate with UNICEF to improve the lives of children and women.
Abubakar gave the assurance at government house when he received Mohamed Malick. Fall, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, who led a team of UNICEF staff on a courtesy visit to the governor.
“UNICEF has remained a feature of support in Bauchi State and the support that UNICEF has been giving is appreciated and most needed at this time when resources are scarce because of recession.
“This is the time we need our traditional friends like UNICEF, especially as we are ready to pay our dues,” Abubakar said.
The governor stated that in his five-point agenda, children and women were receiving special attention, especially new-borns and children aged under five.
The governor said that his government was committed to honouring its obligations to development partners, especially in the area of payment of counterpart cash contribution; and appealed to UNICEF to continue to support the state government, assuring that his government would always source for funds to pay counterpart because payment of counterpart shows ownership and attracts more support.
On education, the governor said that his government was implementing programmes on girl-child education; with efforts being made to not only enrol girls, but ensure they remain in school and complete their education.
In his remarks, Mr. Fall, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, said that his visit was to strengthen the collaboration between the UN agency for children and the Bauchi State government.
Fall said that the collaboration with the Bauchi State government, which has been on for many years, was in the sectors of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene; education and child protection; noting that the partnership has recorded achievements and challenges which needed to be addressed.
“We need to cover more children in managing malnutrition.
“In education, we have seen enrolment and completion figures above 60 per cent but we need to work together to expand these achievements by providing opportunities for more girls to go to school.
“On child protection, we need to work together to tackle violence against children at the household and other levels; child marriages and all issues that affect children generally,” Fall said.
