The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Nigeria cannot effectively tackle its rising poverty levels without ensuring access to quality education for all, especially vulnerable children and girls.
Speaking at a media briefing in Yola, Adamawa State capital, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nazhat Rafique, said education remains the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty.
She urged governments at all levels to prioritise inclusive, high-quality learning, warning that the growing number of out-of-school children continues to threaten the country’s development.
Rafique placed strong emphasis on girl-child education, describing it as critical to national progress.
“Give me good mothers, and I will give you a good nation,” she said.
She also called on leaders to address cultural and social barriers that hinder girls from accessing education, noting that entrenched traditions and gender bias continue to limit opportunities for many children.
Rafique highlighted the role of the Education Cannot Wait initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and UNICEF to expand access to education in underserved communities.
Also speaking, UNICEF Education Specialist Abdulrahman Ardo said the intervention is designed to improve learning outcomes and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the North-East.
“It will reduce the number of out-of-school children in Adamawa State and promote inclusive and equitable access to quality education for all children,” he said.
He added that the project includes training for 100 teachers in climate change, disaster management, and risk control to strengthen resilience in schools.
According to him, more than 253,000 students across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states are expected to benefit from the programme, which started in September 2024 and will run until December 2027.
