UNICEF, SUBEB to train 120 youths on advocacy

UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, in collaboration with Bauchi
State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), is to train 120 youths drawn from
14 states and FCT in advocacy capacity building.

The UNICEF Field Office Chief Bhanu Pathak, announced this development
in Bauchi at the opening session of a three-day capacity building
workshop on advocacy at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi.

Pathak, represented by UNICEF educationist, Hajiya Mairama Dikwa, said
the programme was in commemoration of the 2019 Day of the African
Child (DAC), with the theme: “Humanitarian Action in Africa:
Children’s Rights First”.

He said that the training was aimed at engaging the youth on
continuous mobilisation and advocacy for equitable and increased
access to safe quality education for all children.

Pathak said strategic engagements were being organised among youths,
policy makers and highly influential persons, including traditional
rulers, to discuss the need for increased access to safe quality
education for children, especially girls.

The UNICEF Field Officer frowned at Bauchi state for recording more
than 1.2 million out of school children.

He noted that the ration of teachers to pupils as well as shortage of
classrooms and other facilities were not favourable for teaching and
learning.

The acting chairman, Bauchi State Basic Education Board (SUBEB),
Alhaji Mansur Abdu lamented that the state is having the highest
number of out-of-school children in the country.

“Government alone cannot salvage the situation due to its lean
resources hence, the need for organisations to assist”.

He lauded UNICEF for introducing various programmes towards salvaging
the situation in the state.

The chairman particularly mentioned the provision of instructional
materials, training and various programmes introduced by UNICEF
towards high quality education for children as commendable.

The representative of USAID and Northern Education Initiative (NEI),
Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, said that the initiative had targeted two
million out-of-school children in Bauchi state.

Ahmed, who said that the initiative would soon embark on
rehabilitation of youths in the formal education sector commended the
organisers of the programme.  

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