By Chidimma C. Okeke
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has joined UNICEF to establish a partnership aimed at addressing child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria.
The partnership, which was launched in Abuja, was said to focus on aligning the nation’s poverty reduction strategy with the child and national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), reviewing social sector policies to reduce child poverty, and implementing presidential-level accountability measures for reporting and feedback on child rights and poverty in Nigeria.
The chairman of NESG, Niyi Yusuf, said: “Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is crucial that we tackle child rights violations and poverty in Nigeria to ensure their success. According to the National MPI 2022, two-thirds of our children are multi-dimensionally poor, with 51 per cent of all poor people being children. This means over half of the poor children lack the intellectual stimulation necessary for early childhood development.”
He said the launch represents a critical step towards a future where children’s rights are respected, and they receive the support they need to become productive citizens.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, said: “UNICEF is dedicated to protecting children’s rights in Nigeria and worldwide, and helping them build a strong foundation for their future. Our partnership with NESG highlights the urgency of realising this goal and will coordinate efforts to achieve child rights protection in Nigeria through effective public policies.”
While noting that investing in children is investing in human capital, he said the right nutrition and care, especially during the first 1000 days of life, can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn, and rise out of poverty.
He said it can break the cycle of poverty for families, communities, and countries, and shape a society’s long-term stability and prosperity.
