Health insurance: Oyo enrolls 10,000 primary school pupils, gets UNICEF commendation - ITREALMS

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The Oyo State Government has enrolled about 10,000 vulnerable children in public primary schools into the state's Health Insurance Scheme under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

Oyo State governor, 'Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, presented the health insurance identity cards to beneficiaries at the flag-off of the public primary pupils health insurance scheme, held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, on Thursday.

UNICEF says 2024, worst year for children in conflict zones - ITREALMS

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The United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, has lamented the rising attacks on children globally, describing 2024 as the worst year, especially for children living in conflict zones, reports ITREALMS.

UNICEF, ITREALMS gathered, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach in some 190 countries and territories where it has presence to help children survive, thrive and fulfil their potential.

Airtel Nigeria hosts UNICEF GenU 9JA committee, reinforces commitment - ITREALMS

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Airtel Nigeria hosted the 2024 UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU) Steering Committee meeting at the Airtel Nigeria headquarters in Banana Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

The breakfast meeting served as a collaborative forum, bringing together stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society to review GenU 9JA’s progress in providing Nigerian youth with digital learning, upskilling, and pathways to meaningful employment.

TECNO partners UNICEF, supports digital learning - ITREALMS

TECNO, a leading innovative technology brand, has partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria to support the implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport, a digital learning platform.

Too many children remain out of school today, and many more are not learning. In Nigeria, the challenges in the field of education are particularly acute. To improve the quality of education for children and adolescents, the Federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF launched the innovative Nigeria Learning Passport programme in 2022. This initiative forms part of UNICEF's broader global educational strategy, the Learning Passport, established in 2018. 

Anambra: Gunmen kill four on UNICEF convoy @Ogbaru - ITREALMS

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Some four personnel of the United States Embassy in Nigeria on a humanitarian mission to Anambra State under UNICEF, have been shot dead following an attack on their vehicle on Tuesday afternoon, reports ITREALMS.

The attack took place Tuesday along Atani, Osamale road at the axis of Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

Digital education: Airtel, UNICEF to connect 100,000 children in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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Leading telecommunications provider and mobile money services with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, Airtel, is set to roll out a digital learning initiative in Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF that will connect 100,000 children to the Learning Passport, an online resource, over the next five years. With over 50 million subscribers, Nigeria is Airtel Africa’s biggest market.

Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya said that 100 schools will be connected annually in the country as part of the five-year, US$57 million partnership with UNICEF signed in October 2021.

True cost of violence against children - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The high economic cost of violence against children in Nigeria was been revealed in an unprecedented report, launched jointly by UNICEF and the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, reports ITREALMS.

According to the report, the economic impact of the violence against children in Nigeria is estimated to be about USD$6.1 billion, which is equivalent to about 1.07 percent of the country’s GDP.

This financial loss is from the cumulative loss of earnings due to loss of productivity, stemming from suffering associated with different degrees of violence, over time.

“The cost of inaction is high, when it comes to violence against children,” said Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. “Violence affects children’s health, education, and productivity. It is clear that we need to eliminate any form of violence against children – both from a moral perspective and an economic perspective.”

The report revealed that about half of the Nigerian children surveyed experienced physical violence by parents, adult relatives, direct or indirect caregivers or community members, before they reached 18.

“The findings of this study point to the strong need for increased funding of interventions by government to reduce violence against children in Nigeria,” said Mr Olajide S. Odewale, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

It was noted that the study may actually underestimate the economic burden of violence against children, as several serious consequences of such violence were not included, due to a current lack of data.

The evidence presented in the report indicates an urgent need to provide child protection services in Nigeria and prioritize the elimination of violence against children, which can ensure the country’s human capital has the mental, physical, and emotional stability needed to boost its social and economic development.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, giving us an opportunity to join our collective efforts to protecting children from violence, abuse and neglect. This includes a re-commitment to increase investment in child protection services,” said Mohamed Malick Fall, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria.

The research on violence against children was led by the Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF, and with funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through USAID, the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women urge action to end female mutilation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Mary Oloiparuni was 13 when she was mutilated. Restrained in a doorway early one morning in her home, she was cut, bled profusely and experienced agonizing pain. The scarring she endured then continues to cause her pain today, 19 years later. It has made giving birth to each of her five children an excruciating and harrowing experience.

                                                                                                                                  

Mary is not alone. At least 200 million girls and women alive today have had their genitals mutilated – suffering one of the most inhuman acts of gender-based violence in the world.

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we reaffirm our commitment to end this violation of human rights, so that the tens of millions of girls who are still at risk of being mutilated by 2030 do not experience the same suffering as Mary.

A joint statement available to ITREALMS by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA, Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women, they noted that this effort is especially critical because female genital mutilation leads to long-term physical, psychological and social consequences.

"It violates women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health, physical integrity, non-discrimination and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment. It is also a violation of medical ethics: Female genital mutilation is never safe, no matter who carries it out or how clean the venue is," they decried.

Because female genital mutilation is a form of gender-based violence, we cannot address it in isolation from other forms of violence against women and girls, or other harmful practices such as early and forced marriages. To end female genital mutilation, we have to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and work for women’s social and economic empowerment.

In 2015, world leaders overwhelmingly backed the elimination of female genital mutilation as one of the targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is an achievable goal, and we must act now to translate that political commitment into action.

At the national level, we need new policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women to live free from violence and discrimination. Governments in countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent should also develop national action plans to end the practice. To be effective, their plans must include budget lines dedicated to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, education, social welfare and legal services.

At the regional level, we need institutions and economic communities to work together, preventing the movement of girls and women across borders when the purpose is to get them into countries with less restrictive female genital mutilation laws.

Locally, we need religious leaders to strike down myths that female genital mutilation has a basis in religion. Because societal pressures often drive the practice, individuals and families need more information about the benefits of abandoning it.

Public pledges to abandon female genital mutilation – particularly pledges by entire communities – are an effective model of collective commitment. But public pledges must be paired with comprehensive strategies for challenging the social norms, practices and behaviours that condone female genital mutilation. Testimonials by survivors like Mary also help to build understanding of the practice’s grim reality and long-lasting impact on women’s lives. Advocacy campaigns and social media can amplify the message that ending female genital mutilation saves and improves lives.

Thanks to the collective action of governments, civil society, communities and individuals, female genital mutilation is in decline. But we are not aiming for fewer cases of this practice. We are insisting on zero.

Uj. Dominic/Editor

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Children under attack in conflicts says UNICEF

ITREALMS:

Children in conflict zones around the world have come under attack at a shocking scale throughout the year, says the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), reports ITRealms.

UNICEF made this assertion to ITRealms through its Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine, noting that even parties to conflicts blatantly disregarded international laws designed to protect the most vulnerable.

“Children are being targeted and exposed to attacks and brutal violence in their homes, schools and playgrounds. As these attacks continue year after year, we cannot become numb. Such brutality cannot be the new normal,” Fontaine said.

ITRealms gathered that in conflicts around the world, children have become frontline targets, used as human shields, killed, maimed and recruited to fight. Rape, forced marriage, abduction and enslavement have become standard tactics in conflicts from Iraq, Syria and Yemen, to Nigeria, South Sudan and Myanmar.

In some contexts, he said, children abducted by extremist groups experience abuse yet again upon release when they are detained by security forces. 

“Millions more children are paying an indirect price for these conflicts, suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma as basic services – including access to food, water, sanitation and health – are denied, damaged or destroyed in the fighting,” Fontaine submitted.

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Over 20 organisations for takeover by children

ITREALMS:

As the World Children’s Day (WCD) gets underway on Monday, 20 November, 2017, Nigerian children are not left out as there is advanced plans for them to take over in excess of 20 organisations in commemoration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this to ITRealms, the Communication Specialist at the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, said that to commemorate the anniversary this year, children across the world will ‘takeover’ high-profile moments in the media, politics, business, sports, music and entertainment to raise awareness on the most vulnerable and hardest to reach children. 

According to him, children would use the opportunity to raise their voices in solidarity with the world’s most disadvantaged children.

In addition, they would shine a spotlight on the most pressing challenges faced by their generation.

“More than anything else on this day, we seek your support to make this an advocacy moment for children’s right by children themselves,” he said.

Njoku further confirmed that over 22 organisations have been enlisted for takeover by some children, namely:

1.      Children takeover prominent roles at Hilton Hotel.

2.     Presentation by a Nigerian child at the Ted talk-like Regional African Dialogue in Accra Ghana.

3.     Children’s visit to Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club and takeover of management and games at the Club.

4.     Children takeover broadcasts at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

5.     Children takeover broadcasts at Kaduna State Media Corporation

6.     Children takeover broadcasts at Ebonyi State Broadcasting Service

7.     Children takeover broadcasts at Broadcasting Corporation of Abia state

8.     Children takeover broadcasts at Imo state Broadcasting Corporation

9.     Children takeover broadcasts at Anambra Broadcasting Service

10.  Children takeover broadcasts at Cross River Broadcasting Corporation

11.  Children takeover broadcasts at Radio Bayelsa

12.  Children takeover broadcasts at Radio Rivers

13.  Children take over broadcasts at Rhythm FM

14.  Children takeover broadcasts at Inspiration FM (Radio)

15.  Children takeover broadcast at Lagos Television

16.  Children takeover broadcast at Radio Lagos, Eko FM

17.  Children takeover broadcasts at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

18.  Children takeover broadcasts at Nigerian Television Authority

19.  Children takeover broadcast at Breeze FM Akure

20.  Children takeover broadcasts at Positive FM Akure

21.  Children takeover broadcasts at Bauchi State Television

22.  Children takeover broadcasts and the Managing Director’s role at the Bauchi Radio Corporation

Uju. N. Dominic/ED, Ops

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U-Report reaches 2m Nigerians

ITRealms:

The UNICEF’s unique social media platform to engage with communities on issues that affect them, known as U-Report, now has over 2 million registered responders in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

U-Report uses simple Short Message Service (SMS) messages and social media to reach communities around the country and provides an opportunity for community members to share their opinions and drive positive change. U-Report relies on volunteer community members, mostly young people, serving as U-Reporters to provide information through conducting polls on issues that affect their communities. It is also an important tool for sharing information through message alerts.

Including the more than 2 million Nigeria U-Reporters, the U-Report platform reaches communities in 39 countries around the world and has grown to almost 4 million since it was first launched in 2011.

The first U-Report poll in Nigeria was sent out in April 2014 and since then, 169 polls have been run and more than 150 alerts issued on the Nigerian U-Report platform in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin and English. The topics include health, education, safety and security, Internally Displaced Persons, water and sanitation and violence against children, with results disseminated to Government and other relevant agencies.

Since its inception in Nigeria, UNICEF’s main partner on U-Report has been National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which has been a key player in the recruitment of responders. All states in Nigeria are represented on the platform, with the highest number of U-Reporters registered in Jigawa state.

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Trafficking: UNICEF facilitates release of 527 children, others

ITRealms:

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has facilitated the release of 752 persons including 527 children, reports ITRealms.

According to the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Pernille Ironside, the children were specifically released from administrative custody.

Ironside said, UNICEF welcomes the release of 752 women, children and elderly men from Giwa military barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“They had been held for screening after previously having been under the control of Boko Haram militants. The release is a demonstration of the Nigerian authorities’ commitment to better protecting children and helping families to rebuild their lives.

“These 527 children are first and foremost victims of this horrific conflict.

“UNICEF is working closely with the Borno State Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development and other partners to support the children in their recovery and return to their communities.

“Medical personnel are assessing the condition of the women and children. Counselling services are on hand and social workers are helping to trace parents or guardians, so that they can reunite children who have been separated from their families. Children will also have an opportunity to start learning and playing again.

This is the first important step on a long road to recovery and normalcy for these children and women who will require ongoing support to reintegrate with their families and communities.”

Chuke Egbune/GEE 

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UK biggest donor supporting UNICEF @northeast response

ITRealms:

The United Kingdom (UK) has been identified as one of the biggest donors supporting UNICEF’s humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria, as well as its work in other parts of the country, reports ITRealms.

A press release by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), quoted the International Development Secretary Priti Patel as revealing a new package of humanitarian support during the visit.

“Parts of northeast Nigeria including ‎the outskirts of Maiduguri - a city that the Secretaries of State visited - have been decimated by attacks from Boko Haram. The militant group have killed over 20,000 people, displaced 1.7 million and left 8.5 million in desperate need of urgent support. Ongoing attacks continue to destroy communities, with recent reports of children being forced to carry suicide bombs,” part of the statement read.

ITRealms gathered, UK increased support would extend DFID’s humanitarian programme in Nigeria over five years (2017-2022) to deliver: lifesaving food for more than 1.5 million people; treatment for up to 120,000 children at risk of dying from malnutrition-related causes; ongoing support to help keep 100,000 girls and boys in education, providing a brighter future for the next generation; and humanitarian access to transport aid workers delivering assistance to the hardest to reach areas, for example using helicopters where roads are blocked or dangerous to use.

  

“It is catastrophic that at least 20,000 people have been murdered by Boko Haram’s terrorist regime, and over five million people have been left hungry and many homeless. Babies’ bodies are shutting down and mothers who have lost everything are fighting to keep their children alive. 

“Global Britain is a country that stands tall in the world and the UK will not turn its back on people living in danger and desperation,” Priti Patel.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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‘James Bond’ Sir Roger Moore is dead, UNICEF mourns

ITRealms:

The popular British film, television and stage actor, better known for his portrayal of Simon Templar in The Saint and as secret agent James Bond, Sir Roger George Moore, is dead, reports ITRealms.

He denied after a battle with cancer in hospital in Switzerland, Geneva, at the age of 89.

Sir Roger Moore, ITRealms gathered was one of UNICEF’s longest serving Goodwill Ambassadors, following his appointment on 9 August 1991, sequel to introduction to UNICEF by the late Audrey Hepburn.

For UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, with the passing of Sir Roger Moore, the world has lost one of its great champions for children – and the entire UNICEF family has lost a great friend.

ITRealms in addition reported that in his most famous roles as an actor, Sir Roger was the epitome of cool sophistication; but in his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he was a passionate – and highly persuasive – advocate for children. He once said that it was up to all of us to give children a more peaceful future. Together with Lady Kristina, he worked very hard to do so.  

“All of us at UNICEF extend our deepest sympathies to the Moore family, and join his many friends and admirers from around the world in paying tribute to his life and mourning his loss. He will be deeply missed,” Lake said.

ITRealms recalls that Sir Roger Moore, a Knight of British Empire (KBE), has in his first mission for UNICEF to Central America, visited projects for children in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Over the years, his work with UNICEF also took him to Brazil, Ghana, Jamaica, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Philippines and Mexico. He brought attention to the desperate conditions facing some of the world’s most vulnerable children and was a compelling voice on issues such as children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, landmine injuries, child labour and iodine deficiency.

In November 2012 Sir Roger was presented with the first-ever UNICEF UK Lifetime Achievement Award which then became the Roger Moore Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of his dedication to UNICEF, both as a generous fundraiser and a global advocate for children’s rights. 

On receiving the award, Sir Roger said “I am perhaps best known for my role as Bond, but my role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF is the one I am certainly most passionate about. It is beyond doubt that it’s the children and dedicated staff on the ground who deserve medals, but I am absolutely honored and would like to thank UNICEF for this truly humbling award.”

Late Mr. Bond who was married four times will be treated to a private funeral in France, according to family sources.

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UNICEF responds to IDPs in Bama, Borno State, says 15,000 children involved

ITRealms:

Over 25,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama, Borno State, including 15,000 children are now accessing humanitarian assistance from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), reports ITRealms.

The assistance, which commenced since March 2016, according to Chief of Communication at UNICEF Nigeria, Doune Porter, saw to the partnership on ground, which has been working in Bama since then, primarily in the IDP camp in the town that houses approximately 25,000 people who have been displaced by the conflict, among which are 15,000 children.

UNICEF, Porter also said, have provided health and nutrition support for approximately 19,000 people and since May, the UN arm and the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency have had a permanent primary health care presence in Bama. 

“We are seeing an average of 140 outpatients a day; providing treatment primarily for malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea; screening for malnutrition and treating severely malnourished children, as well as providing Vitamin A, micronutrient supplements and deworming tablets,” she said. 

Based on the most recent data available, she said the team on the ground has discovered that they do not have regular means of communication, show that during the period 3 April – 31 May 2016, 323 children were admitted for treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition – an average of 6 new cases per day.

Additionally, we have repaired and upgraded five boreholes in Bama, providing 10-12 litres of water per day per person in the IDP camp. In the following days, construction work is due to begin on 150 latrines. We have also identified three thousand children who have become separated from their families and have started to register children with the aim of trying to trace their families.

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