FGN lauds UNICEF for supporting Continuity of Qualitative Education in North-East
Story from Usman IBRAHIM
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has commended the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for adopting the Education in Emergency Programmes, leading to the achievements in the Continuity of Qualitative Education in the North East zone despite the insecurity challenges.
Dr Lidia Giginna, Director of Education Support Services, Federal Ministry of Education stated this in Yola at a one-day workshop for national dissemination of best practices in education amidst emergencies to strengthen resilience of education functionaries in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY states).
Giginna, who was represented by the Desk Officer of Education in Emergencies, Mrs Chioma Imogu, said the Federal Ministry of Education under the framework of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), with the support of UNICEF using Education in Emergency Programmes, has been able to expose education functionaries to all the best practices in the education sector.
“This has undoubtedly yielded achievements towards the continuity of qualitative education in the North East (BAY states) of Nigeria, despite the emerging challenges of insecurity and insurgency being faced”, she said.
Dr Judith Giwa-Amu, UNICEF Education Officer for Abuja said the need for education functionaries, as key duty bearers to be well equipped with knowledge and skills ro discharge their duties has become very imperative especially in times of emergencies.
She added that the meeting serves as a forum to show and tell what has been achieved towards building education and a better plan to manage current and future emergency shocks.
“Armed with these skills, it is anticipated that the entire sector will be strengthened in resilience to withstand emergency-focused concerns and strive to ensure education continuity and the provision of quality education services to support improved learning outcomes for Nigerian children as key contribution to the developmental index of Nigeria.
Mrs Wilbina Jackson, Commissioner Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development in Adamawa, commended the federal government and UNICEF for the partnership.
The Commissioner, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Bala, Director Planing, Research and Statistics, Adamawa State Universal Education (ADSUBEB) confirmed that education in emergencies is very important as it contributes to the development of the education sector
To successfully replicate the initiative in other states of the federation, participants were drawn from Niger, Zamfara, Ondo, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba States as well as the BAY states.
