Sokoto state government said N500 million has been injected into the Girl Education Programme(GEP3) initiative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) which has concluded arrangements to round up the programme in the state.
Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Muhammed Kilgori disclosed this at a round table on the sustainance of the cash transfer programme of the state
With the theme: ‘Educate-A-Child (EAC) Cash Transfer Programme, the commissioner said that the state decided to sustain the programme because of the success recorded.
According to him the state had declared state of emergency in Education using medium and long term plan with priority on out-of-school children.
“We key into the cash transfer programme of UNICEF and other partners because of the impact it has made in the sampled local government and for your information, we have introduced the programme in all the twenty three local governments in the state.
Kilgori further revealed that each Desk Officers in these local governments have been given motorcycle for monitoring.
“We are poised to release at any point I time our counterpart fund to UNICEF and other partners who interest in improving school enrolment in our state.
Speaking at the occasion, the Representative of the Minister of Information, Falayi Temitoye, who also is the desk officer of UNICEF at the ministry, said his ministry had been in collaboration with UNICEF over the years and is ready to continue as far as the welfare of Nigeria child is at the front burner.
He enjoined the media to give the issues of child education the wildest coverage it could.
On his part, the Sultanate representative, Alh. Sanni Umaru Jabbi reiterated the sultanate’s readiness to continue to bridge the gap between government and the citizens
He commended UNICEF and other collaborating agencies for their support in improving school enrolment in sokoto state
The programme was put together by the Child Rights Information Bureau ((CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information in collaboration with UNICEF.
Cadbury takes nutrition education to primary school
Cadbury Nigeria Plc has commenced training of stakeholders that will drive its ongoing community partnership project, which seeks to promote healthy lifestyle among Nigerian children and adults, in collaboration with Helen Keller International (HKI).
In a statement, the Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Cadbury West Africa, Bala Yesufu said, “Our partner, Helen Keller International, has so far trained 130 participants that cut across nutritionists, agriculturists and teachers in Lagos state, on the mechanics of the programme.
“The training is in phases and we will eventually teach nearly 6,000 children and families in nine schools in Lagos, the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after-school activities.
“We are embarking on this project in Nigeria to inculcate healthy habits in children from an early age. We are happy to partner with HKI in this initiative that will help improve the well-being of Nigerians.”
At the launch of the programme in Lagos recently, Yesufu described the event as a milestone for Cadbury Nigeria because it is the first-ever Mondelez International Foundation-funded effort in the country, while noting that it would further complement the company’s existing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Cadbury Nigeria joined nine other countries in the Mondelez International family in the initiative that involves a 50 million dollars multi-year commitment to promote healthy lifestyles and address obesity.
Speaking in the same vein, the State Lead, Healthy Lifestyle Project, Helen Keller International, Olukemi Adeyanju said, “When it comes to preventing malnutrition, we are not afraid to get our hands dirty.
“We are doing this in Lagos state through the Healthy Lifestyle Project in public primary schools to provide nutrition education, physical exercise through active play, and cultivate gardens for a quality diverse diet.”
