Lagos has reported 17 confirmed cholera cases and 15 fatalities to date.

Laboratory investigations have identified the strain as cholera sub-type O-1, which is associated with more severe diseases.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, stated on X that this strain has the potential for widespread dissemination.

Community-based case finding and contact tracing have revealed that the number of cases has peaked and is now significantly declining.

The geographical distribution of suspected cases by Local Government Area shows Lagos Island as the epicenter with 106 cases, followed by Kosofe with 49, and other areas with varying numbers of cases.

Support is being received from the NCDC, WHO Nigeria, UNICEF Nigeria, and local NGOs, which are raising awareness and conducting community-based surveillance efforts.

The report underscores a concerning lack of preparedness, revealing that only 37 per cent of schools across ten states have early warning systems to detect threats.

Presented under the title “Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) Monitoring Report”  at the United Nations House in Abuja, UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Education, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, emphasized that ensuring a secure learning environment for every Nigerian child remains an ongoing challenge.

Over the past decade, conflict-related violence has resulted in over 1,680 abductions, 180 deaths, and numerous attacks on schools, leaving a devastating impact on children’s education.

Shockingly, 90 of the Chibok abductees remain in captivity, and the nation is reeling from a recent abduction in Kaduna State.

UNICEF’s recommendations stress the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for children.

Speaking at the event commemorating the Chibok abductions’ 10th anniversary, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, highlighted the imperative to address both the symptoms and root causes of the crisis, reaffirming education as a fundamental right crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty.

The report’s analysis exposes disparities in implementing safe school standards across states, with Borno State leading with 70 per cent compliance, while Kaduna and Sokoto lag significantly behind at 25 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

Furthermore, the report reveals concerning deficiencies in school infrastructure and preparedness for natural hazards, severely impacting children’s safety and learning.

The escalating violence has left over a million children fearful of returning to school, with thousands of schools closed due to attacks.

UNICEF’s report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for concerted efforts at all levels to protect Nigeria’s most vulnerable population and ensure every child’s right to education in a safe environment.

The displacement, spanning from 2016 to 2023, coincided with the 2023 World Children’s Day.

UNICEF highlighted that over 110 million Nigerian children are now at risk due to the escalating effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe storms.

Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, stressed the need for a swift and inclusive response, particularly focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations such as children and women in decision-making and implementation.

Christian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of providing a platform for children to express their concerns about climate change, shaping a collective path toward a sustainable future.

To address these challenges, stakeholders in education, the environment, media, and relevant organizations gathered at Evolution Hotel, Gombe, for the launch of the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Nigeria on World Children’s Day.

The event, streamed live by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, outlined key climate risks to children and presented multi-sectoral climate actions planned for Nigeria from 2023 to 2027.

Notable attendees included UNICEF officials, Gombe’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, and representatives from the Project Coordinator of Agro-Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), as well as journalists and advocates for peace.

Following the launch, an inter-school quiz competition on climate change was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Gombe State Ministry of Education, ACReSAL, and Pathway to Peace DW Academia.

Government Girls Mega College, Gombe, secured the first position, while Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, and Government Day Secondary School, Gombe, claimed second and third places, respectively.

Ms. Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, delivered this message during the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl at the Kano Government House.

The event was themed  “Our time is now – our rights, our future.”

Munduate acknowledged that while the achievements of girls provide hope, a concerning reality emerges as 7.6 million girls in Nigeria remain deprived of essential educational opportunities. She further revealed that Nigeria accounts for a staggering 15% of out-of-school children globally.

“Yet, only a mere 9% of the poorest girls have the chance to attend secondary school. This is not just a statistic, it’s a wake-up call. However, amidst these challenges, we find glimmers of hope,” she emphasized.

Munduate pointed out that Kano currently ranks second in the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria. She stressed the urgent need to emphasize the transformative power of education, as it not only creates opportunities but also actively breaks the cycles of poverty.

Munduate noted that the enthusiasm displayed by students during the event serves as evidence of the boundless potential that resides within every girl child. Their capabilities underscore the outcomes achievable when girls are empowered through education.

During a panel discussion, students touched on various vital topics, including the challenges of insecurity as a significant barrier to girl-child education and the necessity for girls to participate in various sectors of human endeavor.

In light of this achievement, UNICEF is urging the Nigerian government to amplify its foundational literacy initiatives.

Mrs. Yetunde Oluwatosin, the Education Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, shared this milestone during a conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She highlighted the agency’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) program, which is designed to enhance early childhood education in Nigeria.

The FLN program is an innovative learning solution for both classrooms and home-based teaching, focusing on introducing and supporting states in implementing age-appropriate teaching approaches to establish a strong educational foundation for Nigerian children.

This initiative includes curriculum-aligned, high-quality, and inclusive teaching and learning materials.

Oluwatosin explained, “The idea is to ensure that the children achieve or attain the desired level in their grade with the teaching and learning materials. As the child progresses into primary school, using their mother tongue as an approach, they are able to learn and achieve literacy and numeracy growth as they should.”

Between 2018 and 2022, UNICEF reached out to over 1.8 million children with learning materials, and they aim to empower another 4.8 million children by 2027.

This initiative was launched in response to the observation that some children were progressing through the education system but not reaching their expected grade levels, necessitating a remedial approach to get them back on track.

Oluwatosin emphasized that evidence from similar programs in other countries, such as India, where the context is comparable to Nigeria, has yielded positive results.

She urged the Nigerian government to strengthen its collaboration with UNICEF by allocating more funds to the education sector, particularly at the foundational and early education levels.

In the digital age, Oluwatosin stressed the importance of scaling up these teaching approaches across states to ensure that Nigerian children receive a quality education that prepares them for the 21st century.

She also emphasized the need for continuous teacher empowerment and development to enhance their skills.

Oluwatosin highlighted the critical role of teachers and the importance of building their capacity, both before entering the profession and throughout their careers.

She called for effective mentoring and coaching approaches and encouraged collaborations between parents and teachers to ensure that children’s education needs are met.

She acknowledged the efforts of the government and development partners while emphasizing the need for continued collaboration and expansion of successful educational models.

During a media workshop on foundational literacy and numeracy in Benin, Edo State, Mrs. Yetunde Oluwatosin, a UNICEF education specialist, highlighted the detrimental impact of the learning crisis on Nigeria’s development.

The workshop, themed“Turning the Tide on Nigeria’s Learning Crisis, A South-West Media Dialogue on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy” was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Edo State SUBEB, Edo State Ministry of Education, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos State Directorate.

Oluwatosin revealed that 73 percent of 10-year-olds in Nigeria struggle with reading and comprehending simple text, while 9 out of 10 children in Sub-Saharan Africa face learning poverty.

She noted that only 63 percent of 5-year-olds, primarily in rural and northern regions, participate in organized learning, resulting in delayed primary school entry and poor learning outcomes.

The UNICEF education specialist emphasized that 3 out of 4 Nigerian children cannot read with understanding or solve basic mathematical problems.

Furthermore, she highlighted the discrepancy in literacy and ICT skills among Nigerian youth, with only 7 percent possessing the necessary digital skills for today’s economy.

Oluwatosin cited challenges such as limited infrastructure, teacher shortages, and insufficient learning data as contributing factors.

She mentioned UNICEF’s efforts to improve teaching quality and learning materials, reaching over 1.8 million children between 2018 and 2022, with plans to reach an additional 4.8 million by 2027, primarily in the north.

Oluwatosin stressed the importance of foundational learning skills to reverse the learning crisis trend and enhance primary school learning outcomes in Nigeria.

Ms. Blessing Ejiofor, UNICEF Communication Officer, called on the media to influence policies that improve learning outcomes for Nigerian children, emphasizing the need for positive actions from decision-makers.

Dr. Joan Oviawe, Edo State Commissioner for Education, commended UNICEF’s efforts to reduce learning poverty in the state, highlighting initiatives to address literacy and inclusivity in education.

She expressed the state’s commitment to providing accessible and structured learning opportunities for all, including out-of-school populations, through technology and teacher support programs.

A report released by the child rights agency said Nigeria lost the money between 2008 and 2021.

“The direct effects of conflict, in terms of death and injury, loss of livelihoods, displacement, and damage to infrastructure, are transformed into long-term economic impacts. This is because these impacts reduce the rate of economic growth for the country affected by conflict relative to what it might have been, had conflict not occurred,” the UN agency said in the study published Wednesday.

“This study provides a quantitative estimate of the economic cost that arises from violence and grave violations. The study found that cumulative losses (i.e., the losses that build up each year that the economy is damaged) were around US$100 billion for the duration of the conflict. The monetary measures are an indicator of the lost development opportunities suffered as a result of the conflict.”

While noting the impacts of conflicts, it said the North-East crisis has implications beyond Nigeria’s shores.

“The impacts of conflict are not confined to the regions that experience these most acutely. Nigeria as a whole, is worse off as a result of the conflict,” the report added.

“Given Nigeria’s economic size relative to the rest of the region, slower growth in the country may have broader regional spillover effects. That is, regional growth is likely to be lower than in a counterfactual case in which Nigeria was free of conflict.”

While commenting on the development, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria Cristian Munduate, said even if the conflict’s effect reduces in the coming years, its impacts on the economy would still be “profound”.

“Even if we anticipate a reduction in conflict effects over the next ten years, the Nigerian economy still faces profound cumulative losses,” she said.

“The ‘scarring’ effect of this drawn-out conflict may inhibit the economy from achieving its full potential, putting the nation’s future prosperity in jeopardy.”

The organization emphasizes the importance of policies that encompass aspects such as extended maternity leave, paternity leave, flexible work options, lactation breaks, and suitable facilities that enable exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

UNICEF underscores the profound impact of infant nutrition on national development and emphasizes that these initiatives are vital to fostering healthy growth.

Dr. Tushar Rena, Chief of the Field Office for UNICEF in Bauchi State, conveyed these recommendations during a media discussion held in Azare, Bauchi State, as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

Dr. Rena highlighted the significance of providing mothers and caregivers, particularly those in the informal sector or on temporary contracts, with necessary support to facilitate convenient breastfeeding.

Addressing the challenges faced by working parents, Rena emphasized that adequate paid leave enables parents to meet their young children’s essential nutritional requirements.

He stressed the foundational role of optimal infant feeding in human capital development and the potential risks associated with poor Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, which can impact child survival and socio-economic progress.

Dr. Rena drew attention to the fact that workplace obstacles often lead to the premature cessation of breastfeeding, underscoring the importance of providing working mothers with sufficient time and support.

He pointed out that babies who are not breastfed have a significantly higher risk of mortality before their first birthday compared to exclusively breastfed infants.

Dr. Rena urged journalists to continue raising awareness about the critical connection between infant nutrition and national development, emphasizing the need for sustained attention to this vital issue.