UNICEF has shared a new report showing that 69.2% of children in Kano State are very poor in many ways.
Fatima Musa, a social policy expert from UNICEF’s Kano office, talked about this report in a meeting in Zaria on Friday.
This number shows that a lot of children in Kano are missing out on many important things like education, healthcare, nutrition, and a good home.
The meeting brought together news managers from Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states. They discussed big problems affecting children’s rights.
Musa also said that 59.5% of children aged 0 to 17 in Kano are poor in terms of money. That means many children are facing many difficulties.
“The Child Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) shows big differences across Nigeria’s regions,” Musa shared. She added that poverty is much higher in the North-East and North-West, where 90% of children are poor. The South-East and South-West have lower, but still concerning, child poverty rates at 74% and 65.1% respectively.
Musa showed that child MPI is over 50% in every Nigerian state and over 95% in states like Bayelsa, Gombe, Sokoto, and Kebbi. This reflects not just lack of money, but also poor access to education, healthcare, clean water, and safe homes.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says children under 18 should get special care from the state, family, and community. But the current child poverty in Nigeria shows we need to invest more in child-focused policies and programs.
UNICEF is asking the government to spend more money to fight child poverty. Musa said we need to make schools better, improve healthcare, and provide social safety nets to solve the causes of child poverty.
Musa praised the governments of Katsina and Kano for starting Universal Child Benefits. She said this is a good step to help poor children and families.
Samuel Kaalu, a communication expert at UNICEF’s Kano office, asked the media to focus more on problems affecting women and children. He talked about violence against children that often goes unnoticed and emphasized the importance of public awareness to get children in school and protect their rights.
UNICEF continues to push for stronger government actions and community efforts to ensure a better future for children in Nigeria.