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Don Proffers Solutions To End Child Poverty As UNICEF Rolls Out Intervention In Three States

Published

1 year ago

March 14, 2024

Dr Ali-Madina Dankumo, a lecturer at the Department of Economics and Development Studies, Federal University Kashere in Gombe State has rolled out some measures to be taken by the Nigerian governments and policy makers in order to end child poverty in Nigeria.

Dankumo rolled out the measures while presenting a paper titled “Global Best Approaches to Addressing Child Poverty” during a two-day media dialogue on Addressing Child Poverty, organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office in Gombe on Wednesday.

According to him, addressing child poverty in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that ranged from massive investments in Education, access to healthcare, empowerment of women and girls, child sensitive policies.

Others, he said included nutrition programmes, social protection, community engagement and participation, data collection and monitoring, partnerships and collaboration as well as long term vision and sustainable development, among others.

The university Don, who acknowledged that the Nigerian government had beautiful initiatives, said that lack of monitoring and implementation of programmes, corruption like diversion of public funds are some of the factors mitigating against good policies in Nigeria.

He highlighted some of the good initiatives of the government in addressing child, women and youth poverty to include the conditional cash transfer, free school meals, NPower programmes among others, and called for proper monitoring and implementation of programmes.

Dankumo also added that there is the need to engage children and give them the voice to speak up and express their opinions.

However, speaking during the event, Dr Yusuf Auta the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office’s Social Policy Specialist explained that the UN organization had taken drastic measures towards reducing and eradicating child poverty in three North Eastern states of Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe.

He explained that UNICEF had supported the development of the Situation Analysis of Children and supported the development of the Social Protection Policies in Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States.

According to him, the UN organization had also supported the targeting of the most poor and vulnerable households into the three States’ Social Register.

“UNICEF is also involved in strengthening the capacity of technocrats in implementing pro-poor interventions as well as providing various interventions in Education, Health, WASH, Child Protection, Nutrition and Budgeting,” he said.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.