Chief, Field office, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Akure office, Dr Tushar Rane, on Thursday, said the Oyo state government showed commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by allotting 22.37 per cent of its 2020 budget to education.
Quoting statistics of the National population commission of Nigeria that several residents of the state experienced female genital mutilation, infant mortality, malnutrition, Rane held that the 2020 budgetary allocation to education and health could help tackle the challenges of non-access to quality healthcare and education.
Rane stated this during a meeting with Oyo state government officials led by Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Adeniyi Farinto, on Thursday, on protecting children, women and the vulnerable in the society.
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While assuring of UNICEF’s collaboration with the Oyo state government in achieving the SDGs in the state, Rane noted that a situation analysis of children and women was imperative in addressing socio-economic vulnerability.
inaugurated steering committee and technical working groups to develop situation analysis of children and women in the state.
The meeting saw Farinto inaugurate a steering committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi and four technical working groups to look at child survival, education and development, Child Protection and poverty and socio-economic vulnerability.
Farinto explained that the committee was set up in line with the state government’s resolve to protect the most vulnerable set of people in a society.
Farinto assured that the recommendations that will emerge at the end of the study will enable the government to gather relevant planning data that will accelerate progress towards the achievement of SDGs and adherence to human rights conventions.
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