INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD: UNICEF CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION

As International Day of the African Child is being marked, the Chief of UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, has encouraged leaders in the continent, including Nigeria, to commit more resources to the qualitative education of children and promote their rights to actualize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Conteh, who gave the the advice in Enugu while speaking on the event of the day, explained that children among other things, had right to qualitative education and health care.

He stated UNICEF’s committment to sustain collaboration with governments to ensure the wellbeing & development of children.

In separate submissions the Chairman Nigeria Union of Teachers, Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Theophilus Nweke Odo and a school proprietor, Dr. Vero Mogboh, advocated proper funding of schools to advance the country.

They said that students and pupils in Enugu State were taught in their native language in addition to English language while French and other major languages were also taught in many schools as well.

A public affairs analyst, comrade Ikenna Eneiga, emphasised that “the progress of a country is seen in the investment it makes in its education sector,especially the schools.”

Comrade Eneiga called on governments to always make the provision of qualitative and functional education a priority.

The theme of the 2019 International Day of the African Child is: “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First.”

EMEFIENA OKONKWO