UNICEF X-RAYS PROGRESS & GAPS AS IT HOLDS 2023-2024 WORK PLANNING MEETINGS

REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has restated its committment to continually partner relevant stakeholders to further strengthen the statistical system of the country to advance the development agenda and work towards a better Nigeria.

Specialists of UNICEF, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora and Mrs. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, stated this at Federal Goverment/UNICEF Country Programme of Co-operation (2018-2022), State Level Dissemination of the 2021 Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS6) and National Immunizatuon Coverage Survey (NICS) 2021/2022 reports, 2022 End Year Review as well as 2023-2024 work planning meetings.

Mrs. Zubie-Okolo encouraged all Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Development Partners, Cıvıl Society Organizations, the Organised Private Sector, the Accademia and the media to fully utilize the survey findings and generated data.

This, she appealed, should be used to plan and advocate the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the rights of all Nigerian children, women and men as enshrined in national policies and global committments such as the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs).

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, explained that the first in the series of the multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICs1) in the country was conducted in 1995 by the Federal Office of Statistics (FOS) now National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with technical and Funding assistance from UNICEF. 

Mrs. Onuora noted that the current MICS-NICS data was critical for effective budgeting and decision-making, while the data from the Survey painted a picture of the situation of children and women in Nigeria. 

Mrs. Onuora, while noting that good progress had been made, also stated that disparities and challeges still existed. 

She cited the 2021 MICS-NICS report that revealed that child mortality had decreased in the country, from one in eight children dying before their fifth birthday to one in ten children since the last round of MICS five years ago,(2016/2017).

In addition, significant progress had been recorded in exclusive breastfeeding and birth registration rates as well as reduction in child marriage. 

The meeting was well attended by UNICEF Specialists, top government officials including Enugu State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. David Ugwunta and Director, South East Zone, National Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr. Eric Nwaze and the media.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU