UNICEF Urge for Urgent Action on Nigeria Children.
UNICEF Children celebrates World Children’s Day 2024. It is UNICEF’s day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
On World Children’s Day 2024, the Government of Nigeria and UNICEF launched the summary report of the 2024 Updated Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Nigeria (SitAn).
This comprehensive report provides an in-depth review of the current conditions affecting Nigeria’s nearly 110 million children and adolescents, offering important insights to guide policy and investment decisions aimed at improving the lives of the nation’s youngest citizens.
What is The UNICEF Children Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Nigeria?
The Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Nigeria, SitAn is developed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics with technical support from UNICEF, presents both the progress made in key areas and the significant challenges that remain to be tackled with.
Notable Achievements Reported By SitAn
- Improved birth registration rates.
- Reduction in child mortality.
- Increased childhood immunization coverage.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Honorable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning said:
“ Although the situation of children has progressed in most areas, the figures still reveal causes for concern, The launch of this report coinciding with the commemoration of World Children’s Day shows that children in Nigeria are a priority of the government, Under the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is committed to investing in social protection and health to improve the situation of children in the country.”
According to Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria:
“This updated SitAn serves as a wake-up call for all of us. Every statistic in this report represents a child who deserves a better life. We must act decisively and collaboratively to change these realities. UNICEF remains dedicated to partnering with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that every child has access to quality healthcare, education, and protection. The present and future of Nigeria depends on the well-being of its children, and there is no time to lose.”
How SitAn Affects Child Poverty in Nigeria
The SitAn supports government efforts and development initiatives, offering evidence-based recommendations to address systemic challenges and invest in the most effective solutions. These suggestions include:
- Increasing budgetary allocations for children’s services.
- Improving early childhood development programs,
- Expanding access to safe water and sanitation, and
- Scaling up initiatives to protect children from violence and exploitation.
Key Data from the Report
UNICEF, in collaboration with SitAn provided the following report analysis.
- For every 1,000 live births, 41 babies don’t survive.
- 47% of children (aged 0–17 years) live in income poor households, and 67% experience multidimensional poverty.
- 57% birth registration for children under age five.
- Over 2.1 million children in Nigeria are not vaccinated, this is the highest globally.
- 1 in 4 primary school children are out-of-school, and 3 in 4 do not develop foundational learning skills.
- One of every five households practice open defecation.
As Nigeria celebrates World Children’s Day, this report serves as a vital resource for all stakeholders committed to creating a brighter, safer, and more equitable future for the nation’s children.
Written By Iripia Omoyi
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