The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), ElEVA foundation in collaboration with Sokoto State Government has commenced the training of 4,700 Almajiri and out-of-school adolescent girls in the state on various skills acquisition.
The Chief of Child Protection UNICEF, Abuja Mr Ibrahim Sesay stated this at the inauguration of Community Based Child Protection Multipurpose Centres in Kware and Dange/ Shuni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.
According to him, Out of the number, 3000 are Almajiri, and 1,700 are out-of-school adolescent girls across 8 ln Local Government Areas of the state.
The skills include tailoring, soap making, antiseptic production and shampoo production.
He noted that over 2,000 out-of-school children have been identified for referral back to school march in the state.
He further explained that the two multi-purpose centres are not only to provide recreational opportunities for children but also a safe space for counselling services, mental health support and psychosocial services.
“As we celebrate this achievement, it is imperative to consider scaling up and replicating this initiative in other locations in the state to ensure that a larger number of vulnerable Almajiri and out-of-school adolescent girls have access to education he stated.
He appealed to the state government to increase budgetary allocations to sectors impacting children’s education, health, sanitation and protection to ensure the expansion and sustainability of the interventions.
Sesay said UNICEF acknowledged the support and collaboration with ELEVA Foundation in promoting the total well-being of children in Sokoto as well as the commitment of the Sokoto State Government led by Dr Ahmed Aliyu in steering and ensuring the continuity and sustainability of these laudable projects.
Earlier the Chief of Office UNICEF, Sokoto Mr Michael Juma said in an effort to reduce the vulnerability of children in Sokoto State, the Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs supported by UNICEF has taken the initiative in identifying and registered vulnerable children.
He added that in a comprehensive survey a total of 449, 523 children were verified and registered comprising 113,208 Almajiris and 136, 315 OOSAGS.
He maintained that the initiative targeted other vulnerable groups such as survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), victims of Violence Against Children (VAC) and children in contact with the law.
He implored the state government to pay counterpart funds to enable the program to be sustained.
On his part, the commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Alhaji Tukur Alkali thanked UNICEF and ELEVA Foundation for the kind gesture.
He stated that Ahmed Aliyu-led administration is poised to eradicate out-of-school children in the state.
He noted that there are deliberate policies targeted in massive enrollment of children in the school.
On his part the district head of Kware Alhaji Muhammad Dan’Iya thanked UNICEF and ELEVA Foundation for building the multipurpose Centre in his domain.
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