News

UNICEF Moves To Address Out-of-school Children Problem In Bauchi State

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2023

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office has taken measures to tackle the problem of out-of-school children in the state.

It is no news that Bauchi state had been tagged as one of the states of the federation with the highest number of out-of-school children, a development UNICEF found worrisome, hence its collaboration with the state government to tackle the problem headlong.

Speaking with journalists in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state on Friday, during a field trip organised by the international NGO, Mr. Raphael Aiyedipe, Education Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said it was necessary for both parties to understand the situation by going to the communities along with the media.

He explained that this would allow them to meet with some of the out-of-school children, interact with them, their parents and guardians as well as the community structures to understand their plights and the underlying factors as to why the children were out of school.

“Over the years, UNICEF has been working with the state government and local government authorities to make sure that we reduce this number of out-of-school children.

“That’s why we decided to have this media engagement, if we do this, maybe we will be able to understand better, why the issue of out-of-school children is increasing instead of it to be reducing.

“Now we are also going back to use the traditional structure where every Emirate will understand the situation of out-of-school children within their own Emirates.

“They will talk with their District Heads and then, during the enrollment drive campaign, we will bring them into the structure and work with them effectively,” he said.

According to him, this move would allow UNICEF to effectively reduce the high number of out-of-school children in Bauchi state.

Meanwhile, a cross section of Women in Masori Community in Alkaleri LGA, recommended that the state government should introduce a community driven empowerment programme for women to support their children in obtaining basic education.

One of the women, Mrs. Fatima Mohammed, said that women had no or limited resources to support the quest of their children to basic literacy in the interest of human development.

According to her, trades and skills were the backbone for human capital development, adding that most of their men have neglected their parental roles of the child’s rights to education.

Also speaking, Lami Ibrahim, a mother of six, revealed that all her children were out of school due to lack of educational materials to aid the learning process.

She said: “Women are left with the responsibility of providing educational materials and financing their children’s education.

“We are full time housewives without a source of income. So, we send them on street hawking during school break time to get money for their educational needs.

In her contribution, Asabe Baba, a mother of four, lamented that despite several attempts to enroll her children, poverty was instrumental in denying the children access to school.

“Our husbands are mostly peasant farmers and this has made it difficult for us to send our children to school,” she said.

Our correspondent who spoke with some of the out-of-school children in the area, observed that most of them have passion for education but were left at the mercy of their mother who could do little or nothing at all for them to obtain their basic education.

Hauwa Ismailla and Amina Abubakar expressed sadness for not being able to go to school for the past three years due to lack of money from their parents.

They however, called on UNICEF, the Bauchi state government and well as all development partners to come up with plans or initiatives to help them get back to school.

News

NYSC Pays Arrears After Two-month Break

Published

7 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The National Youth Service Corps resumed payments for arrears on Wednesday, marking the first disbursement since the last payment on June 3, following a two-month break.

This payment relates to the new N77,000 monthly allowance recently approved by the Federal Government.

Recall that on April 5th, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, assured that corps members who recently completed their service will receive the new N77,000 monthly allowance approved by the Federal Government.

Speaking during the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, Nafiu said, “Once funds are released to us to offset the arrears, we will pay them. Even our corps members who passed out recently will benefit. We have their bank details.”

He emphasised the government’s commitment, adding, “Nigerians should not fret about that because the government is both responsible and responsive to their needs.”

This development was confirmed by PUNCH, by a previously serving corps member who chose to remain anonymous, who said, “After waiting for two months, I didn’t expect to see another payment alert. But honestly, it’s not just about the money; it’s about feeling like our efforts actually count.

The payment of arrears, covering the period from July 2024 to March 2025, follows widespread frustration over delayed implementation after the Federal Government approved the allowance increase as part of its commitment to easing economic hardship for Nigerian youth.

News

FCTA Withdraws Park Licences, Directs Fresh Screening Of Operators

Published

7 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has withdrawn all park licences in Abuja, directing operators to resubmit their documents for a fresh screening exercise, with a possibility of reallocation.

The Director, Department of Development Control, Murktar Galadima, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday, while explaining the reasons for the demolition of Boulevard Park, Maitama, Abuja.

The FCTA carried out the demolition of Boulevard Park in Maitama on Tuesday, over violations of park policies and distortion of the Abuja Master Plan.

Assistant Director, Department of Development Control, and Sector Head for Maitama and Wuse, Sherif Razak, explained during the exercise that the park, originally designated for recreational purposes, had been overbuilt and misused.

He said the park had been converted to worship centres, revival grounds, and restaurants, operating under unhygienic conditions.

Galadima explained that the decision to withdraw park licenses followed a memo jointly submitted by the Directors of Parks and Recreation and Lands to the Minister of the FCT, highlighting several inadequacies and violations associated with parks management in the FCT.

He said the new directive offers park operators the opportunity to resubmit their documents to the Department of Parks and Recreation for review.

“If they meet the terms and conditions, they can be reallocated. Owners of parks should respond to the call, submit their documents, and if they meet the requirements, they will return to their parks,” he said.

The Director stressed that the decision was not taken to deliberately witch-hunt park operators, but is part of efforts to restore order and compliance with existing policies.

“There’s nothing like witch-hunting. All park allocations have been withdrawn following a series of violations, and the Minister is at liberty to do whatever he wants to do with land in the FCT, parks inclusive,” he stated.

On the recent demolition of Boulevard Park, Galadima clarified that operators were duly notified before enforcement, pointing out that the park had long violated its terms of allocation, operating in direct contravention of recreational policy.

“Boulevard Park was allocated for recreational purposes, but the activities taking place there are a total violation of the park policy in terms of operation. Boulevard has violated all the terms and conditions,” he said.

He noted that monitoring park operations was the primary responsibility of the Department of Parks and Recreation, adding that parks were expected to submit concept designs for approval before operations commenced. However, lapses in monitoring had led to widespread abuse.

“The FCT is a creation of law, and lawlessness will not be tolerated. The development of the city is guided by law, and every operator must comply with the terms and conditions of their allocation,” Galadima said.

He stated that a ministerial committee had been set up to review all allocations and uses of parks, to ensure they were serving their original recreational purpose.

News

Tinubu Names New VCs For Education Varsities In Zaria, Kano

Published

7 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday named Prof. Yahaya Bunkure as the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled ‘President Tinubu appoints Nakore, Kodage into governing council of Federal University of Education Kano, Bunkure, names VC Federal University of Education Zaria.’

Bunkure is a renowned academic specialising in science education.

He is currently the Vice Chancellor of Saadatu Rimi University of Education in Kano.

Tinubu also appointed Abdurrazaq Nakore, an engineer, as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

He named Prof. Abdullahi Kodage as Vice Chancellor of the university.

Nakore, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, was Executive Secretary of the Rural Electricity Board in Jigawa State.

The Federal University of Education, Zaria, and the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, were among the four Colleges of Education upgraded into full-fledged universities between 2022 and 2023.

“In accordance with the institution’s governing laws, the pro-chancellor will serve a term of four years, while the Vice-Chancellors will serve for five years,” the statement added.