The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concerns over the increasing poverty levels among Nigerians, highlighting the urgent need to bolster the country’s social protection system.
This call to action was articulated in a communique jointly signed by UNICEF Country Representative Cristian Munduate, EU Ambassador to Nigeria Samuela Isopi, and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.
The communique emerged from the 3rd Edition of the Social Protection Cross Learning Summit held in Abuja on Friday.
The document emphasized that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, grapples with significant challenges in human capital development.
Read Also:
These challenges include deficiencies in health, education, nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and child protection.
To address these issues, the communique urged for a comprehensive and effective social protection strategy.
“In response to these challenges, the Government of Nigeria introduced a cash transfer program, providing 25,000 Naira over a three-month period to poor and vulnerable households. This initiative aims to alleviate immediate economic pressures and mitigate the socio-economic impact of recent economic reforms.
“Our goal is to create a comprehensive support network that addresses the multifaceted needs of children and families, ultimately leading to improved outcomes in health, education, and overall well-being. We must work together to bridge gaps and strengthen coordination,” the communique said
