United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, has called for the improvement of the welfare and well-being of children by communities, parents and traditional leaders in Kano State.
He also appealed for the domestication of the Child Right Act by the State.
Hawkins, made the call yesterday, during a webinar conference, organized by UNICEF in partnership with Kano State Government and Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI).
Recall that in 2003, Nigeria passed the Child Rights Act into law, unfortunately, however, only 25 states have domesticated the law. Eleven other states are yet to do so.
The focus of the conference was to discuss the alternate pathways and future of Almajiri children in the state.
“Government should also look at domesticating the Child Rights Act in Kano. Kano has not yet domesticated the Child Rights Act. The Act defines the rights of a child, parents, communities and government in fulfilling the rights of that child.
“We need to enhance the social protection element, increase livelihood, identify and reintegrate these children with their families,” Hawkins said.
According to him, the issue of girls’ education is so critical that all must look for alternative ways not to leave them behind.
“With the COVID-19 lockdown, this is a period to skill up the teachers, bring the girls and boys back to school and give them access to education. It’s about the ability to value what they will learn,” UNICEF Country Representative, noted.
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in his remarks, said that his government has concluded plans to carry out a census to build up data of almajiri children so as to create a sustainable programme for them.
“We found out that we have three categories of Almajiris in Kano – those that belong to Kano state, those from other states and those that don’t know where they come from.
“These children have a right to be educated, protected and a right to be with their parents. We are trying to create a sustainable program, so even when we leave office the program will still be sustained.
“Our new policy on education is taking care of the girl-child. Education in Kano now free, so people will not be marginalized. Education in Kano is now compulsory from primary to secondary. Compulsory education is now included in the law. There are new schools that we have created and we shall continue to create new schools. Recruitment of teachers is gradual. Pertaining to financing, apart from the normal budgets for education in Kano, we also created an education trust-fund,” Governor Ganduje, said.
On his part, the Chief Imam, Al furqan Mosque, Kano, Dr Bashir Umar, argued that the Quranic education cannot exist without the endowment system.
He, therefore, urged Governor Ganduje to set up a regulatory system to ensure that standards are maintained.
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