Some women who have benefitted from Young Moms support initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation
By Ibironke Ariyo
The Young Moms Support Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has trained no fewer than 1,500 women on digital skills to expand their businesses and earn decent living.
The Executive Director, Dr Vivian Sonny-Nsirim said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
NAN reports that Young Moms Support initiative is supporting and empowering women and children for a better society.
The NGO birthed the largest online community of young women called the Young Moms Forum with over two million active members.
Sonny-Nsirim said that the training was free for all women who owned businesses or willing to own one.
She said that the training was to enable the beneficiaries to utilise digital tools to grow and expand their businesses.
“The training was via Zoom and Closed WhatsApp groups held from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4.
“The essence is to bring women and other marginalised groups into technology.”
This, she said, would provide creative solutions and greater potentialities for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality.
Women who have benefitted from Young Moms support initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation
“The goal was also to expose women to online market stalls, financial tools like whatsapp applications available on Google store, to manage their business finances and records,’’ she said.
Sonny-Nsirim said topics covered during the training included maximising Facebook page for business, advance use of whatsapp and Google drive, as well as graphic design.
“We want the women to understand that something as small as their android phones can go a long way in helping them to drive online traffic and achieve business growth and transformation,” she added.
The executive director called for reform of the country’s education curriculum with emphasis on the teaching of science and technology from primary school to stimulate critical thinking among children, including girls.
She said that technology was increasingly being misused and weaponised, with women and girls disproportionately targeted.
“This is why the NGO is investing in providing digital solutions in agriculture, health and in the fight against gender based violence.
“Rural women can now also market their products around the world without leaving their rural environment via social media platforms as they have gained extensively from the training,’’ she said.
Sonny-Nsirim who holds the traditional title of Ugochinyere I of Igboland and Madubia of Uke kingdom, said a lot could be achieved when women and girls were ICT-literate.
“It will fast track their thinking and help them generate income to cater for their families,” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. (NLNG) says its ‘NLNGChangeYourStory’ skills workshop has benefited over 90 journalists since 2015.
The NLNG said the skills workshop aimed at reinforcing their digital communication and social media competencies.
Mr Andy Odeh, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, said this at the end of its 2023 #NLNGChangeYourStory workshop in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day annual capacity-building workshop brought together a diverse group of more than 25 journalists from various media organisations in Abuja.
The event, fully sponsored by NLNG, focused on mobile and multimedia journalism, offering participants a comprehensive learning experience.
Odeh, in a statement on Monday, by Mr Yemi Adeyemi, Acting Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG, said the workshop aimed at equipping journalists with cutting-edge digital communication and social media skills.
Odeh expressed NLNG’s commitment to empowering journalists with tools and skills needed to effectively convey stories that resonated with the Nigerian populace in today’s rapidly evolving digital age.
He reiterated NLNG’s belief in fostering a symbiotic relationship with its stakeholders, recognising their indispensable role in the company’s current and future success.
“The growth and triumph of NLNG’s stakeholders are inextricably tied to the company’s growth, and thus, capacity building remains a cornerstone of NLNG’s commitment to collective progress.
“NLNG’s dedication to capacity building is not a mere rhetoric but a tangible commitment that bolsters the growth and success of both stakeholders and the nation.
“It is also in line with our vision of being a globally competitive LNG company helping to build a better Nigeria,” he said.
He added that NLNG’s quest for sustainability led to the recognition of digital communication and social media as the future of the media.
He said the workshop was initiated in 2015 when eight journalists participated in the first #NLNGChangeYourStory workshop.
He said the workshop, anchored by seasoned journalist, Mr Dan Mason, in collaboration with ‘The Journalism Clinic,’ led by Mr Taiwo Obe, proved to be a transformative experience for the participating journalists.
“Leveraging their wealth of knowledge and experience, these experts guided participants through the nuances of digital communication and social media, empowering them to take control of their narratives and shape the nation’s stories.
“The workshop is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of state-of-the-art training.
“Journalists emerge equipped with the confidence and skills to embrace digital communication and social media,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
As part of efforts to achieve its health focus, the Rotary Club of Nigeria, Wuse 2 District has raised awareness on mental health during pregnancy among women in FCT.
The club also donated maternal kits to the women, according to the president of the club, Mrs Rebecca Ebokpo.
Donating the relief materials at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Dutse Makaranta, Abuja on Wednesday, Ebokpo said it was very important to ensure the mental wellness of expectant mothers.
According to her, the donations made by the club were to aid care delivery to pregnant women.
“We are focused on mental health among pregnant women.
“We will continue to do more and do more on sensitisation. Let them know that they can find help right from the primary health care centres.
“Sometimes pregnant women do not speak out for fear of being misunderstood,” she said.
She said available “statistics indicate that Nigeria is not doing well in terms of providing maternal care to pregnant women.
“So as a club, we have to step in and change the narrative.”
Speaking, Dr Nwakwo Tochuckwu, one of the mayors of the club said the donations and health talks given to the women were in fulfillment of the club’s maternal and child health responsibilities, which were its focus area in the month of July.
Tochukwu observed that the donations were part of the club’s support to pregnant women to assist them in their pregnancy journey.
“It is important to support pregnant women with these donations and health talk.
“A lot of them have no money or support and sometimes fall into post-natal depression without understanding what is wrong with them.
“But with awareness creation they become aware and ready,’’ he said.
Dr. Linda Eze- Obiako noted the need and importance of focusing on the mental health of a mother, because a healthy mother will lead to a healthy baby.
“They should also take exercises serious, stay clean and eat right.’’
“ They should also approach medical workers incase there is any concern,’’ she said.
Mrs Abigail Austin, a beneficiary and expectant mother, applauded the efforts of the club and the donations to the expectant mother’s, saying it was apt.
“During the health talk when we were being taught about mental health talk ,it hit me hard because I have had my own share of it.
“I already have two kids , so when I took in this time, I got into depression because I wasn’t ready for it , but I didn’t know who to talk to.
“Things are hard now and talking to people who already have their own handful of problems can be overwhelming. ‘she said (NAN)
Sen. Shehu Sani has called on President Bola Tinubu and governors across the country to appoint special advisers on disabilities.
Sani, former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, made the call when he visited the Abuja School for the Deaf on Thursday.
He said that people living with disabilities should be considered for political appointments in all tiers of government.
According to him, it is important for government to place special needs persons in positions of authority, adding that they are an integral part of the society.
He said appointing them into such positions would give a voice to their plight while protecting their rights.
“I call on President Bola Tinubu and governors to appoint special advisers on disabilities and it should be from among them.
“This is because there is a need to give special attention to our young people with special needs.
“When I was in the Senate, I was one of those who championed the establishment the Commission for People with Disabilities.
“I was also always sent by the President of the Senate then to attend to protests led by people living with disabilities.
“I have not relented in that effort as I will continue to monitor activities of government and stand the gap for them,” he said.
Sani, who is also a human rights activist, said for Nigeria to move forward, persons living with disabilities should be given special attention.
“In other countries you will discover that all segments of society have places reserved for people living with disabilities.
“Places are reserved in parks, markets, cinemas for instance, for people living with disabilities.
“Unfortunately Nigeria has fallen short of this including inadequate funding for this set of people, making them to take to begging, he
He said it was unfortunate that disability was considered as a curse in the society.
“No human being is created perfectly because as humans we have one form of disability or the other.
“If you are not physically challenged, you could have hypertension, diabetes, ulcer or other forms of ailment.
“So, we are all disabled.”
Sani thanked the school management for maintaining a high standard, adding that it was one of the best public schools in Nigeria.
“You occupy a special place in our country.
“This is because you have to operate in a very special environment using very special strategies to impact knowledge in children with special needs.
“I am very impressed to see a government owned school run like a private school with discipline and neatness,” he said.
Sani promised to support government by attending to some needs of the students.
Mr Bamidele Olaitan, Assistant Headteacher Administration, thanked the lawmaker for the visit.
He also thanked government for the support given to staff and students of the school.
On challenges facing the school, the assistant headteacher said they were in need of infrastructure.
Mr Aguda Ezra, Vice Principal Academic, said Sani was the only lawmaker, serving or former, that had visited the school since its inception in 1991.
He said the school would remain grateful to him for not just visiting but promising to contribute his quota to the success of the school.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the 31 year old school has about 600 students.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivian Ihekweazu, has said that Solution Journalism is a key instrument in changing the narrative of how news is reported in the country.
Ihekweazu said this on Thursday in Abuja at the organisation’s project closeout event to share the impact of the work and celebrate organisations, newsrooms, and individuals that made the project successful in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that in 2021, Nigeria Health Watch officially commenced the implementation of the Nigeria edition of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative project supported by Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), USA, and overseen by Africa Initiative.
The three-year journey has been fulfilling and purposeful, according to the organisers.
She said that evidence had shown that consumers of news tend to switch off when the news reporting is focused on problems.
“Solutions journalism, rigorous reporting about how people respond to social problems tells the whole story as it discusses the problem and response to problems.
“The collaboration between Nigeria Health Watch and the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative (SJAI) is the generous support of Solutions Journalism Network,” she said.
She said that the project had trained and supported newsrooms and journalists, enabling them to produce impactful stories that inspire change and offer hope to our communities.
“Through newsrooms, we have trained and through higher institutions, with universities now including in curriculum solutions-oriented reporting so that future journalists are able to report solutions to issues faced in Nigeria and not just leaving it to the usual way we see the news as negative.
“We have collaborated with 30 media organisations, forming three cohorts of newsrooms and engaging a total of 90 journalists.
“We have had over 250 solutions stories published, with over 100 of them indexed. while this is commendable, we will continue to focus on the impact made,” she said.
According to Mr Buki Ponle, Managing Director, NAN, “Whatever we do as journalists, conscience matters.
“As you tell stories, ensure your writing touches humanity and promotes the public interest.”
Speaking on the importance of balancing stories as journalists, Ponle said that there was always a positive aspect of every negative situation.
Ponle commended the Nigerian Health Watch for the initiative and urged journalists to always look for the positive side of every situation.
“We should think of making heroes and heroines,” he advised.
He said that the relevance of journalists in community service was a crucial strategy for advocating for development through factual and resourceful stories.
“As a journalist, it is important to always stand by communities,” he said.
Ms Ruona Meyer, Manager, Africa Initiative, SJAI, said that stories that inspired policy reform in the country had been produced through the solutions journalism initiative.
Meyer said that the initiative was bringing about a change in the media reporting approach in the country.
She said that the incredible stories the project produced while implementing it were now being used to train colleagues in journalism, which was a key achievement.
She said that solutions Journalism added more value to news reporting in the country.
“Journalists and media practitioners agree that consumers are becoming more discerning about the kind of news they read.
“The current generation of readers has been noted to stay away from news that amplifies problems, seeking solutions journalism stories to uplift and inspire change,” she said.
She urged journalists to continue to use their platforms to make good impact in the country.
Mr Chibuike Alagboso, Senior Programme Manager, Nigeria Health Watch, while presenting what Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative had been able to impact, said in spite numerous social problems, things were still working in Nigeria.
Alagboso said that solutions journalism was interested in encouraging journalists to expend more energy pushing solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
“To drive the project initiative, we had newsroom and fellowship engagements, which involved field trips into areas where there were established problems in a bid to find how people are responding to the problems and what can be learnt from their experience.
“This project has made us understand that there are people responding to social problems. Let’s continue to find them and tell their stories so that others can learn,” he said.
Speaking on the Future of Impactful Journalism: “The Roles of Solutions Journalism”, Mr Adedeji Adekule, Programme Director, Nigeria Media Innovative Programme, said that the Nigerian media horizon was growing and seemed to be undergoing restructuring with different media springing up.
Adekule said that the currency of a media organisation was its audience.
“Solution stories add more value and increase engagement.
“As a journalist, you should not be one-dimensional, your stories must be well-balanced, and Solutions journalism is a good way to start,” he said.
Mr Ismail Abdulaziz, Deputy-Editor-In-Chief, NAN, said during a panel session that solutions journalism pioneered extensive story writing with the introduction of its four pillars.
Abdulaziz said that the solutions highlighted in any story usually came with a sense of satisfaction as a journalist.
“This is helping to address the predominant trend of problem-focused reporting that is contributing to news avoidance by the audience.
NAN recalled that the event featured conversations with leaders and the journalists who participated in the project.
The official reports and story dashboard featuring the project story outputs were also launched during the event and featured an exhibition of the stories.
The event provided an informal platform for participants to engage, network and share ideas around propagating solutions journalism across Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Niger State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has trained its members on Solutions Journalism towards exposing them to new practices in the profession.
Mr Ismail Abdulaziz, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), conducted the training on Saturday in Minna.
NAN reports that members from all the correspondent chapels in the state turned out for the training.
“Solutions journalism is a rigorous research and fact based reporting about solutions taken by both state and non-state actors to social problems affecting the lives of the people.
“It is a satisfying new initiative for journalists because it make the news interesting to readers and subscribers who are tired of hearing and reading about problem based reporting only.
“One important aspect of Solutions Journalism is that it entails looking at the impact/relevance of the solution as well as explaining the limitations/challenges encountered while providing the solutions,” he said.
Abdulaziz, who is the head of Solutions Journalism in NAN, said that in solutions journalism the journalist must have a good working knowledge of the profession.
“This means that there is the need for you to have a look at what your research will centre on. It also allow you to make comparative research on solutions provided to a challenge from another clime that is similar to your local challenge,” he said.
AbdulAziz said that in solutions journalism the reporters need to focus on solutions being provided by individuals, NGOs, CSOs as well as governments at all level just as he can report on how a problem is solved somewhere.
“In the course of practicing Solutions Journalism, a journalist is exposed to the rudiments of making government accountable to the people.”
Abdulaziz said that the journalist must strictly adhere to the ethics of the profession in order to be successful in solutions journalism.
”As a new initiative, Solutions Journalism enable networking among journalists across the globe. It also has four universally accepted pillars that must be met.
“It offers chances of getting mentors, funds as well as availing you the opportunity of getting a story published in different news outlets across the world,” he said.
Mr Usman Chiji, a trainee and Secretary of the council, said that the training has inspired members to embrace the concept of solutions journalism in their reportage.
”Its a new initiative that we are opportune to be a part of. We will continue to avail our members of such trainings in order to improve their skill,” he said.
NAN reports that the training was conducted inform of an interactive session between the trainer and trainees.
NAN also reports that the state council
is made up of 11 existing chapels with over 250 members.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Strenghtening maternal health in Plateau: An appraisal of ANRiN
By Martha Agas
Mrs Khadijat Abubakar, from the Maiadiko community like most pregnant women experienced food aversion which threatened her health with that of her baby. She experienced weakness and was cautioned on her health status during her Antenatal Care (ANC) session at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Rayfield. She was educated on the dangers of lacking key nutrients which can cause anaemia, pre-eclampsia and also lead to stillbirth, low birth weight and delay in development for children.
“I have been attending ANC in this clinic, I have learnt a lot and we are taught the kind of food to eat in our condition and how to make them. There are some foods I do not like eating, but with the health talks they do in the clinic, I endure eating them because of their nutritional value to me and my baby, “ she said.
Similarly, Mrs Nancy Stephen, who attends ANC at PHC Bukuru says she looks forward to coming to the clinic for the ‘food demonstration` organised weekly for them. She admitted that she usually washes vegetables after slicing them, but learnt that the appropriate way is washing it with salt before slicing. She has also learnt how to ensure she eats a balanced diet.
“Through the food demonstration I know what to eat to increase my blood level such as vegetables and fruits, because I was told that i do not have enough blood in my system and taught the foods to eat to increase that, for my health and that of my baby. I advise women to follow all the procedures given to them at the clinic,“ she said.
This is the similar story of women in the 100 health facilities implementing the three -year Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project in Plateau. Its component includes providing increased knowledge to pregnant women on nutrition, for their well-being and of their babies, which is critical in improving maternal health in the state.
Maternal health has posed concerns following the records on high mortality rate across the globe especially in Africa. According to UNICEF, Nigeria`s 40 million women of child bearing age, which is between 15 and 49 years, suffer disproportionately high levels of health issues surrounding birth, which has contributed to 10 per cent of global deaths for pregnant women.
Reports from WHO says that between 2005 and 2015, an estimate of over 600,000 maternal deaths and no less than 900,000 maternal near miss deaths occurred in Nigeria, which is threatening its achievement of the SDG target of reducing global maternal ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Experts say social cultural factors such as age, religion, traditions, education, socio economic status and societal construction of gender are major determinants of maternal health outcomes in Nigeria, but the magnitude of its effect varies in different regions of the country.
Nigeria is estimated to have maternal mortality of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, with the northern region as the highest contributor to the statistics.
Observers say that insecurity has further aggravated the already backward region in maternal health. Following the worsening situation, stakeholders have called for more concerted efforts by both the government and non-governmental organisations to find lasting solutions.
Many intervention programmes are being implemented in the region, and reports indicate some improvement in some states on maternal health and one of such states is Plateau.
There are indications that the state has recorded improvement in maternal health and a decrease in maternal mortality. The State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Mrs Hannatu Dung, revealed that maternal mortality has reduced as obtained from recent data from the Nigeria Obstetrics Quality Assurance platform.
“In 2020 maternal mortality was 64 per cent and in 2021, it reduced to 33 per cent, while it (Nigeria Obstetrics Quality Assurance platform) has data of only January to May in 2022 which is 3 per cent,“ she said. She explained that even though the data was mostly collated in the facilities, it is evident that efforts being made are yielding results.
Mrs Khadijat Abubakar, beneficiary of food demonstration
Food demonstration component of the ANRiN project
With a maternal mortality rate of Plateau at 905/100,00 live births, the state is implementing the ANRiN project in 100 health centres across its 17 local governments.
Launched in 2021, the project objective is to increase the utilisation of quality cost effective nutrition services among pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years, which according to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018 (NDHS), 58 per cent of women age 15 to 49 years are anaemic.
Nutrition is critical to women of reproductive age as its chronic deficiency which they are vulnerable to, is a major risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. According to 2018 NDHS`s report, the proportion of women who consume five or more food groups is lower in the northern zones, with the lowest at 47 per cent in the north central zone. In addressing this situation, the project supports counselling of pregnant women on improving their nutrition practices and overall health outcomes, using food demonstrations at the weekly ANC sessions in addition to the provision of Iron Folic Acid (IFA).
The food demonstration involves disseminating nutritional information to the pregnant women, through preparing meals and explaining the procedures, while also using recipes that are accessible and affordable to them in the area, of which they get to taste. The demonstrator also discusses the different food classes and how they can be used to ensure balance diet.
Improved knowledge on nutrition according to a report , is one of the cost effective and sustainable methods for lowering cases of anaemia.
The State Nutrition Officer of Plateau, Mrs Lydia Ishaku, said that the women are encouraged during the health talks to do backyard gardening where they can plant foods which they can easily access, to complement their dieting which should consist of each food group.
She said the project had a target of reaching 6,750 pregnant women in the first year, and in 2020/2021 to reach 67,560 women which it all achieved.
“In 2022, 168,750 women were targeted at and we are presently on it, “ she said.
She said that the project has encouraged ANC attendance as revealed during its monthly review meetings, which shows that facilities implementing the project have more attendances compared to the non-implementing PHCs.
The Nutrition Focal Officer for Jos South LGA, Mrs Paula Hata, said that 10 health facilities in the area are implementing the project and are given a monthly stipend of N5,000 for the food demonstration, which is usually augmented by the Officers in Charge (OICs) of the clinic for its success.
“ANRiN gives us N5,000 monthly to conduct the food demonstration. So, we make a roster for the month to ensure a balanced diet for the pregnant women attending ANC every week, and usually give them health talks on the importance of eating healthy for mother and child.
“The roster also incorporates fruits because we encourage them to take fruits and vegetables too, it will help them as pregnant mothers“ she said.
Food roster of PHC Rayfield
The gains of food demonstration
Attendees of the food demonstration sessions have said that they have learnt many lessons especially on the nutritional values of many foods found in their locality, and processes involved to ensure retention of its contents after cooking.
Also, the management of PHCs implementing the ANRiN project have lauded it for reducing anaemic cases through the food demonstration and free distribution of supplements.
The Deputy Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Rayfield PHC, Mrs Martha Gusomji, said that the project has been very impactful especially in rural communities. Gusomji, who is the former OIC of Gindiri PHC in Mangu LGA, said that many women in rural areas are constrained by finances to have healthy meals and get supplements.
“This project is of great help to the communities particularly women because many of them experience economic hardship and do not use the supplements or eat nutritious meals, while some maybe because of ignorance.
“The main purpose of this programme is to encourage women to make use of their supplements which are given to them free and have nutritious meals which are needed to assist them in child bearing and breast feeding, “ she said.
Similarly, the OIC of PHC, Central Bukuru, Mrs Monica Akyok, said that the women are always excited to attend the weekly ANC sessions, and it has encouraged the enrolment of those that were not willing to register for the antenatal.
“It has encouraged mothers to come out because it is money that prevent some women from attending antenatal clinic, because you pay money to get few things from the clinic, but since ANRiN started its support, they get free drugs and enjoy meals; they have benefitted from it a lot.
“We also encourage them to eat food that can help them boost their immune system because they need more blood during delivery. Not every facility is implementing this project, I think they should extend it to more facilities,’’ she said.
Food demonstration in PHC Bukuru Central
More gains of ANRiN to community
Experts laud the project for encouraging the adoption of nutritious meals as a lifestyle, and also reaching its host communities through step down talks of its benefits by the pregnant women, to other family members and the community as a whole.
Gusomji says women now understand that they should start preparing for pregnancy right from child bearing age.
Stakeholders say review for more budgetary allocation on reproductive health in the state could be as a result of intervention projects such as ANRiN in the state.
The Nutrition Focal Officer for Jos South LGA, Mrs Paula Hata,
Challenges/recommendations
Experts have called for more funding to sustain food demonstration in PHCs, as findings show that many OICs have to augment the paltry sum of the N5,000 monthly allocated to them for the food demonstration.
“Increased funding is needed as N5000 is not sufficient, management augment from their personal funds, “ says the Nutrition focal Officer in Jos South,
She says that the significance of food demonstration cannot be downplayed, as many pregnant women look forward to their ANC sessions where they can also gain knowledge while also enjoying healthy meals.
“Food demonstration is a big thing especially in rural areas. Pregnant women there travel long distances just to get to the clinics where these demonstrations are held to have healthy meals.
Hata also says many reports from the centres indicate that clinics who do not implement the project are abandoned leading to an influx of pregnant women at implementing centres whose officials often get overwhelmed because of the crowd.
Stakeholders have called for its expansion to more facilities especially in rural areas because of its gains. The State Nutrition Officer says the project which is being implemented in only 100 facilities in the state is not sufficient to cater for the needs of pregnant women.
Also, Gusomji says the inclusion of free birth kits to pregnant women in the project will encourage delivery in the facilities and address maternal and neonatal mortality.
“Some women do not see hospital delivery as necessity, they think if a woman can deliver at home, it is alright, but this situation comes with a lot of uncertainties and complications, “ she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Little Naja’atu Gambo of Albarkawa community, Kwarbai B Ward, Zaria City in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State was one year old when her mother died and as such, did not get sufficient breast milk.
Her aunt, Mrs Fatima Aliyu, who raised her, said that Naja’atu at two years old was so skinny and too weak to do anything by herself.
“She cannot speak or crawl, but only sits in one place. Even crying was a struggle for the little girl who looked unhealthy from all indications.
“But this has changed when she was enrolled for the house-to-house delivery of nutrition services under the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN) project.
“Naja’atu, who is now two years and two months old, is now learning how to speak, how to crawl and can play by herself,” said her aunt.
Similarly, a year and a month old Sauwama Haruna at seven months was very skinny, quiet, and inactive, but witnessed a remarkable transformation when enrolled in the project.
“The now agile and playful little Sauwama started walking at 10 months,” said her 30-year-old mother, Mrs Faiza Haruna.
Also, Mrs Amina Awwal, the mother of one-year Muhammad Awwal, said her little boy was always sick, weak and could not crawl, until he started receiving the services.
Awwal said that her little boy was only not growing stronger by the day, but now crawling, learning how to stand and the recurrence of illness significantly reduced.
These children were among the more than two million pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years reached with cost-effective nutrition services in Kaduna State under the ANRiN project.
One-year Muhammad Awwal with his mother, Mrs Amina Awwal
The disturbing indices of malnutrition in Kaduna State and the need for cost-effective intervention
Children under five years constitute 1.9 million, representing 19.2 per cent of the estimated 10 million population of the state, 22.1 per cent of which are stunted, according to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018.
The survey also indicates that 1.1 per cent of the children are wasted, 7.5 per cent underweight, while 17.2 per cent are born with low birth weight.
The report further shows that 1.5 of women of reproductive age are of short stature, while 8.2 per cent of them are acutely malnourished.
At the national level, Nigeria has very high rates of malnutrition with stunting, a measure of chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, constituting the highest burden since 2008.
According to the World Bank, the long-term nutritional problem in the country shows that two out of every five children under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition.
This translates into 14.5 million Nigerian children at risk of either dying or not developing to their full potential.
Micronutrient deficiencies– mainly in vitamin A, iodine, iron, folic acid, and zinc – are a serious problem and despite their high cost-effectiveness, coverage rates of micronutrient supplementation and fortification remain generally low.
It is estimated that 30 per cent of Nigerian children and 20 per cent of pregnant women are Vitamin A deficient, while 76 per cent of children and 67 per cent pregnant women are anemic.
Why nutrition intervention matters
Maternal and child undernutrition is estimated to be responsible for about 45 per cent of child mortality and 11 per cent of the global disease burden.
Malnutrition, in all its forms, imposes unacceptably high costs – direct and indirect – on individuals, families and nations.
According to a technical brief, “The Cost of Malnutrition: Why Policy Action is Urgent” by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, malnutrition is a major impediment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The brief estimated impact on the global economy could be as high as US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per individual.
It highlights that adult earnings are reduced by 2.4 per cent for every 1 per cent loss in potential attained height and affects human capital, leading to losses in national economic productivity and economic progress.
Further costs are decreased cognitive ability, poor school performance and educational outcomes, compromised adult labour productivity, and increased health care costs.
Overnutrition also bears a significant cost; at least 2.6 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
The recent Lancet series on early childhood development estimates that, every year, Nigeria loses about three per cent of its GDP as a result of not addressing the developmental needs of children in the first 1000 days of life.
At the individual level, chronic malnutrition in children is estimated to reduce a person’s potential lifetime earnings by at least 10 per cent.
Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) also said that investment in nutrition would build human capital, adding that early nutrition programmes can increase school completion by one year.
Okoronkwo equally said that investment in the sector would raise adult wages by five to 50 per cent, stressing that children who escape stunting were 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults.
“Also, reduced stunting among children under five years can increase GDP by four to 11 per cent in Asia and Africa,” he said.
Providing cost-effective nutrition services to households in Kaduna communities
Responding to the challenge, the five-year World Bank-supported ANRiN project was designed to increase utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age.
Two non-state actors – eHealth Africa and the Society for Family Health (SFH) were contracted in 2021 to deliver integrated Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BPNS) and Adolescent Health Services (AHS) to the targeted groups at community level.
Other beneficiaries are also being reached at health facilities and currently the services are being provided in 100 facilities across 12 LGAs in the state.
The BPNS involves increasing knowledge of mothers and caregivers of children from zero to 23 months of age on improved behaviours related to maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices.
Other services include provision of micronutrient powders to children from six to 23 months to improve the quality of complementary feeding and iron-folic acid tablets to pregnant women during pregnancy and counseling during ante-natal care sessions.
There is also the provision of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria during ante-natal care to pregnant women, zinc and oral rehydration solution for treatment of diarrhea among children from six to 59 months.
The project also provides semi-annual vitamin A supplementation to children from six to 59 months of age and semi-annual de-worming among children from 12 to 59 months.
The AHS on the other hand, involves counseling for increased birth spacing amongst married women of reproductive age, particularly adolescent girls, 15 -19 years and provision of a full range of short-term and long-acting reversible birth-spacing methods.
Interpersonal Communication Agent administering Vitamin A to children during service delivery at community level
One of the Interpersonal Communication Agents (IPCA), Ms Samira Ahmed, Limancin Kona Ward, Zaria LGA, who delivered the services directly to the beneficiaries in their homes, described her experience as “life touching”.
“I am going house to house to deliver the services to the beneficiaries, some of the services like Vitamin A and deworming are every six months, while iron-folic acid for pregnant women is every month,” she said.
Her supervisor, Ms Salaha Sambo, Adolescent Health Supervisor, SFH, said that each of the IPCA was given a specific number of communities to provide the services and make referrals to health facilities.
“We are working with community structures like Village Head and other community leaders to ensure that the IPC are doing their job and delivering the services to the targeted beneficiaries.
“The project has also put in place a Grievance Redress Mechanism in communities for beneficiaries to report concerns, complaints, dissatisfaction, and claims or make requests or enquiry,” she said.
Impact of the project on the targeted population
The Project Manager, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, described the ANRiN project as a “key preventive measure” that helps to stem the tide of malnutrition in the state.
Muhammad-Idris said that so far, more than 3.6 million contacts of the targeted groups across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state have been reached with BPNS and AHS in their homes and health centres.
According to her, the objective of the project is to reduce chronic malnutrition, maternal and child mortality rates and in the long run, increase school completion, performance and improve labour force productivity.
“Through strategic partnership, ANRiN is reaching more children and women and saving lives by providing nutrition services to children under five years, and adolescent mothers during pregnancy.
“2022 has particularly been a remarkable year for us because we have been able to reach over three million beneficiaries through the non-state actors and healthcare facilities.
“We will make further inroads this year to ensure that all the beneficiaries enrolled received the complete service packages.”
She added that the project also carried out stakeholders’ mapping of all nutrition programmes and interventions being implemented by partners and government ministries, departments and agencies, and local councils.
She said that the mapping has become a reference document for all partners in deciding where a nutrition intervention should be sited in the state,” she said.
“The project also secured 2.7 million dollars (about N1.1 billion) in 2022 for procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition,” she added.
RUTF is an energy-dense, mineral- and vitamin-enriched food specifically designed to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition.
From Left: Project Director, eHealth Africa, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project, Dr Aminu Abubakar; Project Manager, ANRiN Kaduna State; Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris; Director Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of Health Dr Hajara Kera; and Project Director, Society for Family Health ANRiN Project, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, after a one-day Quarterly Stakeholders Meeting on ANRiN Project in Kaduna
The project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr Musa Abubakar, said that out of the 3.6 million contacts reached between July 2021 to Jan. 22, 2023, 815,483 children received Vitamin A and 787,734 received deworming tablets.
He added that 320,155 children received micronutrient powder, 564,028 received zinc/ORS while 477,334 mothers and caregivers of children were counselled on MICYN practices.
“Also, 295,144 pregnant women received iron folic acid, 261,295 others received intermittent preventive treatment for malaria during ante-natal care, while 108,783 adolescent married women received short-term and long-acting reversible birth-spacing methods,” he said.
Also, the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna, said that the number of children under five years dying of malnutrition has decreased from 323 in 2019, to 142 in 2020, and further dropped to 58 in 2021 and 37 in 2022.
The Multiple Indicators and Cluster Survey 2021 also shows some remarkable improvement in exclusive breastfeeding practice which increased to 41.1 per cent in 2021 from the 19.7 per cent recorded in 2017.
The report also indicates that children six to 23 months who received minimum dietary diversity had also increased to 28.4 per cent from 15.8 per cent.
Also, at the recent event held in Abuja, Kaduna State emerged the ‘Best Performing State’ out of the 11 states assessed for the ANRiN project’s community-based nutrition service delivery.
The state emerged as the Best Performing State on Social Behavioural Communication; Partner Mapping and Coordination; Safeguards; and the Most Innovative State.
Kaduna State also emerged the Second Performing State on Fiduciary, and Service delivery at PHC level, while the project manager received the Question Asker Award and Note Taker (documentation) Award.
Leveraging faith-based institution for social behavioural change communication
On Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC), the Project Manager said that beneficiaries, particularly the mothers and caregivers of the children were being counselled on how to adopt good Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MICYN) practices.
She added that the SBCC also involves secondary targets including traditional and religious leaders, husbands of the women, fathers of the children and other community members through various communication channels and faith-based approaches.
This, according to her, is very important because everyone has a role to play in contributing to promoting breastfeeding and other MIYCN practices.
To this end, the ANRiN project contracted the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) to implement the faith-based component of the SBCC.
Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, State team Lead, CCSI, said that the centre was leveraging on the dignity of faith actors – religious leaders, faith-based groups, organisations, schools, and faith-based institutions to raise awareness on MICYN practices.
Abubakar said that the messages focus on five key areas namely maternal nutrition, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and hygiene and sanitation.
According to him, the strategies of demand creation include sermons during services in Church programmes and Friday Juma’a prayer, and other occasions like naming ceremonies, weddings, graduations, and other public gatherings.
“So far, we have trained 115 pastors and imams, and 108 Community Volunteers to assist them and in December 2022 alone, we have reached an estimated 131,000 people with MIYCN messages.
“They include pregnant women, married and unmarried men, women with children under five years, breastfeeding mothers, and mother in-laws.”
State team Lead, Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), Malam Ibrahim Abubakar; Rev. Giwa Kanda of the Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna; Senior Mobilisation Assistant, CCSI, Mr Sunday John; and ANRiN Community Volunteer, Wheapadu Emmanuel, at Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna.
One of the clerics, Chief Imam of Kaduna Polytechnic, Abubakar Yusuf, acknowledged the prevailing ignorance among mothers and caregivers on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and other complementary feeding practices.
Yusuf said he was using the mosque and during naming ceremonies, marriages, and other public gatherings to enlighten mothers, caregivers, including fathers on MICYN practices.
“It was difficult at the beginning because of people holding on to their cultural practices but using religious perspective and provisions in the Quran has helped in changing the mindset of the target groups.
“Currently I am receiving calls from mothers and fathers seeking for more information on what to do in respect of appropriate feeding of the child when in doubt,” he said.
Chief Imam of Kaduna Polytechnic, Abubakar Yusuf
Also, Rev. Giwa Kanda of the Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna South LGA, said the ANRiN project has increased his knowledge on the importance of breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding.
Kanda said that the faith-based initiative was providing critical information to parents and caregivers using the pulpits during church service and other religious gatherings.
“Due to ignorance, some parents and caregivers link the death of children to witchcraft, but this is changing due to access to critical information on how to adequately feed children,” he said.
Addressing challenges for better results
Stakeholders noted that while progress has been recorded over the years, there is much that needs to be done considering the retrogression in some of the nutrition indicators in the MICS 2021 report.
CS-SUNN has said that Kaduna State needs N6.4 billion to treat 96,488 severely malnourished children in the state, noting that funding remains the critical challenge to addressing malnutrition in the state.
Stakeholders pointed out that although the price of addressing malnutrition can be huge, evidence shows that the cost of doing nothing is immeasurably greater.
They call for more attention to the costs of inaction and urges policymakers, particularly those in economic planning and finance ministries, to invest in nutrition and in actionable food and agriculture policies.(NAN)
edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
How entrepreneurs are fighting unemployment among women through social media
By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Employment is essential to every adult who have needs and responsibility to cater for. It is what makes one self-reliant and help reduce or completely eradicate poverty in the society.
Skill acquisition is the art of learning to do something in order to earn a living and or to survive. There are different types of professionals e.g. fine artists, mechanics, potters, vulcanizers, etc. from whom one can learn trades in order to earn a living. Learning to read and write is a skill you acquire at school.
Unemployment rate in Nigeria has increased to 33.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 27.10 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, according to the National Bureau for Statistics.
The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged fewer than 15 years or retired persons.
It is in this vain that a group of entrepreneurs from the northern part of Nigeria, named Entrepreneurs Connect (EC) organized and conducted skill acquisition training for over 1,500 women across Nigeria using the WhatsApp social media platform.
The co-founder of the group, Mrs Inna Mamman-Bukar, said the training was organised to arrest the high number of women and young ladies sitting idle at home doing nothing due to either lack of skills, motivation or poor finance.
“Well, the initial or rather main purpose of the group was to support each other’s business by patronizing, sharing and creating awareness of other business vendors.
“So along the line, we were discussing in the group of how a lot of Arewa women are into business nowadays, yet a lot are sitting idle at home doing nothing due to one reason or the other, maybe due to financial constraints, maybe lack of inspirations and motivations.
“One of our members suggested, why don’t we organize a free online skills acquisition programme for women, at least the little we give might make a very big positive impact in someone’s life.
“We all agreed to teach what we know and decided to teach 16 different skills such as incense production, baking, make-up, soap and detergent production, skin care products among others across the nation.
“Many women are interested in running or starting a business, but lack the basic knowledge of business and online marketing as well, while others are already doing the business but lack motivation and inspiration to carry on.
“We believe that skill acquisition will help a lot, and bring out the hidden talent in them and we executed the plan which has recorded success as many have started running their businesses with the little they have”, she said.
Tackling the challenges of participants access to the programme
Mrs Mamman-Bukar, who reside in Abuja and an incense and perfume dealer, said the challenges recorded from the training was from the participants as most of them complain of lack of capital to start a business.
She said that others complained of available data to download video tutorial for the class, adding that text, images and videos were used to teach and illustrate a given skill.
“Despite the fact that we have non capital intensive skills like graphic design, but you know there are some certain businesses that are not environment friendly, there are businesses you need to run them based on your audience.
“Initially we planned to train 500 women, but we ended up training 1500, which is a huge success to all EC members, and a lot among these women have already started running their businesses from the skills they learned, others are motivated, inspired.
“The cooperation we got from the participants, the prayers and well wishes is just overwhelming. What success could be better than this to the entire members of Entrepreneurs Connect, because it gives us joy to see others benefitting from us for free.
What criteria were taken by the group to select participant?
The training was done online using the WhatsApp social media app with links of the group broadcasted for any interested female to join.
” The criteria was very simple, we just ask any interested woman from our contact to repost the flyers containing details of the training, so as to give room to other interested women to join.
“We adopted the one to tell 10 approach, and before you know it, it cut across, went viral and a lot joined, and even after the training, people are still joining due to the valuable trainings they received at no cost.
” Even though the training is free, a token of N300 is paid for certificate ; which is optional for any interested participant”, she said.
Some Participants share their experiences
Shamsiyyah Yunusa, a married woman residing in Gombe state, stated that she had learnt how to produce local cologne known as Humra along with making other perfumes and incense.
“Immediately after the online class, I went to the market and bought N4,500 worth items for the cologne production just for a start as well as to see the outcome.
” Since I live in a suburb area where people prefer cheap things, I decided to sell the Humra at N200 per small bottle and to my surprise I sold half the products in few days.
Another beneficiary, Nafisa Sani-Daneji, from Kaduna state, said she joined the training group because it was free, saying she had been looking for such opportunities to learn a skill as she was a student who cannot afford paid trainings.
“I was viewing a friend’s status on WhatsApp one day and I saw a flyer stating skill acquisition for free, so I clicked the link which directed me to the group.
” We were taught many skills but I only tried the budget friendly and locally made perfumed body cream known as Kulleccham in which the outcome was great; I sold two creams in a day.
” I plan to add body mist and other locally made perfumes as the business prosper; I appreciate the EC group for this selfless service in empowering women and I pray God uplift them more.
“Skill acquisition training like this would assist greatly in reducing poverty and dependency on spouse among women because many women are tired of being idle, but have no idea of what business to engage in,” she said.
Zainab Haruna, another resident of Gombe and a student, said she had learnt graphic design from the group, adding that it was a skill that does not require much capital.
” With a smart phone and data, I was able to design invitation cards for friends and family where I charged them N1,500 to N2,000; I hope to improve in the skill so that I can start earning high,” she said.
On her part, Fatima Gambo, a married woman residing in Azare, Bauchi state, said she had gained knowledge and experience with regards to business, marketing and sales in the group.
“We were trained on different skills but I chose to venture into skincare business due to the passion I have for skincare; now I know how to produce different skin product.
“I thank God, I have made N12,000 sales in few days and I am getting positive feedback from my first customers who tried the product.
” I started with N30,000 only and I hope to expand on the business and teach other women interested in skincare products”, she said.
Making the programme a sustainable point for the women
”We are looking at a bigger and better entrepreneurs connect in the nearest future,” Mrs Bukar-Mamman said.
“We are planning to conduct the training twice a year, that is after every six months. Because, after the success of the first training, we got to realize that a lot of women in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria, need to be empowered and enlightened on the importance of been financially independent.
“While some just need emotional support, others still need financial support which is the key to starting any business.
“Already some foreign partners are interested in partnering with us in this our initiative. We are planning on training as many women as we can in the future.
” Not only train them, but also support them emotionally and financially if need be. Even as of now, the group is still actively engaging the participants with so many activities,” she said. (NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Jeremiah Oluseto is one of the 218 children and adults released from Borstal Training Institution located in Ilorin Kwara State in November 2021.
Some of the children were taken to the institution by their parents for being stubborn, abusing drugs and smoking among other juvenile excessive and unacceptable behaviours.
Oluseto described his freedom from the detention facility as the “beginning of a new journey” to a life of fulfilment.
The 24-year-old lad, like many other children his age, was sent to the Borstal institution for abusing drugs and causing a series of problems for his family, with the hope he will be rehabilitated.
However, Oluseto said he and the other children in the facility were just locked up with no form of rehabilitation, skills training, or any form of educational support.
“I could not believe my ears when I heard that I am free to go home, free from bondage and the life of agony we were going through in the Borstal institution.
“Although I was delighted to be released, I was still unsure of what was out there for me.
“Then came a sigh of relief when I learned that UNICEF, the Kwara government and other partners have packaged a programme to enable me to rebuild my life again.
“I already gave up on life until a team of social workers came to my house and announced the plan to support me to rebuild my life so that I can be useful to myself and my community,” he said.
Why the youngsters were released from the Borstal facility
A total of 218 children and adults were released from the Borstal Training Institution of the Nigeria Correctional Service, located in Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Their freedom was facilitated after a visit to the facility by the Federal Ministry of Justice, Presidential Committee on Correctional Reform and Decongestion, and Nigeria Correctional Service, supported by UNICEF and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).
The children and adults were released because they were at the facility without a remand order by a court of law, while some of them were beyond the age of 18 as stipulated by the law establishing the institution among other factors.
According to the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Dr Wilfred Mamah, child justice provides that when children commit offences, they should be treated differently and not like adults, but change the behaviour and reintegrate them back to the community.
Mamah explained that the Borstal institution, created under the Children and Young Person Law, was designed to look at the best interest of young person’s when they commit offences.
He, however, said that the situation at the Ilorin Borstal institution was full of anomalies, where children and adults were placed in the same institution, contrary to the provisions of the law.
According to him, the children are exposed to what he described as “structural violence”, where the system is actually not taking care of them as it is supposed to.
“Some of them were brought in by their parents and abandoned without passing through the court, so there was nothing like a remand order.
“They were left there, locked up, coming out only to eat. There is also the issue of drug abuse, leaving many of them in psychological trauma.”
Freed but rejected by their parents/caregivers
Expressing a deep concern, the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Country Office, Abuja, Ms Nkiru Maduechesi, said that beyond the release, was the problem of psychological trauma, abuse, mental health issues and other challenges.
More disturbing, Maduechesi said that most of the children were rejected by their parents.
“Rather than celebrate their return, a significant number of the parents wrote to the state Ministry for Social Development, requesting that the released children should remain with the government,” she said.
One of the parents, Mrs Bosede Oluseto, the mother of Jeremiah Oluseto, a petty trader, could not hide her excitement that her boy would be supported to live a meaningful life.
“When I heard that my child was released, I spent the whole night crying because I do not know what to do with him.
“I personally took him to the Borstal institution because he was out of control, and I was told he will be educated and reformed after a period of three years, only to release him after six months.
“I initially rejected him, because I do not know what to do with him or how to handle his drug abuse and the recurrent mental instability due to excessive drug abuse.
“But with UNICEF support, I am looking forward to seeing my child learning skills and going to school so he can be self-sufficient and independent and grow to become whoever he wants to become,” she said.
Oluseto in yellow t-shirt with social workers during case management assessment visit
UNICEF and the European Union to the rescue
In response to the challenge, UNICEF stepped in as part of its global mandate to work for the rights of children, protect their interest and ensure they grow up to become better persons.
Maduechesi said that UNICEF, in partnership with an Ilorin-based NGO, Save the Future of Children Initiative (SAFIN) and the Kwara State Government had tracked 113 of the children residents in Ilorin, out of the 218 released from the Borstal institution.
She said that the move was to rehabilitate the children and provide counselling support to the parents and reintegrate them to their family and communities.
She said that the effort was under the European Union-funded Strengthening Access to Justice for Children on the Move and other Vulnerable Children project.
Maduechesi had explained that the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Kwara government, social workers, NGOs, parents, and caregivers to provide adequate care to the children.
According to her, the project will also help critical stakeholders to provide the children with the needed mental, health and psychosocial support in addition to the vocational and educational opportunities they need.
“This will enable them to live a meaningful and productive life and will contribute to the growth and development of their families and their communities, free of violence, abuse, and neglect.”
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, Dr Wilfred Mamah, during a four-day Training Workshop on Child Protection Case Management in Ilorin
Reiterating her point, Mamah had described child protection as the prevention and response to violence, abuse, and neglect.
He said that most times children commit offences due to lack of parental care, poverty, and some because they were out of school.
He pointed out that even those that were above school age do not have any skills or trade that would make them useful, so they commit all kinds of offences.
He said that the project would link the children to where they will acquire skills for trade and give them little start-up capital to help them start their lives.
“Eventually, many of them will emerge as entrepreneurs and because they are economically engaged, they will not commit offences,” he said
The European Union and UNICEF have joined efforts to improve access to justice and support the provision of child protection services for 41,389 children on the move, child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation, and children in conflict with the law.
The three-year programme, 2021 to 2024, covers Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria.
“Access to justice is a major issue for children on the move and other vulnerable children in Western Africa.
“The practice of detention continues despite it being contrary to children’s rights, and evidence that shows it has negative effects on girls’ and boys’ development.
“The detention of children, whether unaccompanied or travelling with their family, is never in their best interests and is a violation of their rights.
“This must, therefore, be avoided at all costs,” says Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
Building the Capacity of Social Workers to provide effective services to the children
In line with the concept of child protection, as the prevention and response to violence, abuse, and neglect, UNICEF under the EU-supported project had conducted a series of trainings for social workers, NGOs, and other service providers in the state.
The training was on child protection and case management, to enable the social workers to follow up with the children, identify their needs, provide some of the needs and reintegrate them into the society.
“UNICEF is hoping that going forward, Kwara will have an improved child protection system where case management is very effective.
“This is because the support isbeyond the 113 children but integrating case management in response to all children in need of all kinds of child protection services in the state.
“UNICEF is also supporting the state government to use the Child Protection Management System (CPIMS) to help social workers undertake systematic and professional child protection case management.
“This will enable the government to effectively track the services they are providing in a user-friendly way which will ensure accountability to the government, families, and the children themselves,” Maduechesi had said.
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Abuja (Right), Ms Nkiru Maduechesi taking participants through Consent and Assessment Form, while a participant reads through, at a four-day Training Workshop on Child Protection Case Management holding in Ilorin.
The changing narrative of social workers
Mr Bamigbad Oluranti, Public Relation Officer, Borstal Training Institution, Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State, who participated in the training commended UNICEF for improving the capacity of welfare officers in tracking progress of the rehabilitated children.
Oluranti told NAN that the mandate of the institute was to rehabilitate and reintegrate delinquent children back to the society.
The spokesman said that the training has equipped the welfare officers and other social workers with the needed skills to carry out their tasks of tracking the progress of rehabilitated children in communities.
“We have learnt a lot, particularly on how we can do follow-up visits after rehabilitation of delinquent children to ensure they are making progress in their new life.
“The training has equipped us with the needed skills for documentation and follow up with the children to make sure that they are well reintegrated into the society and become useful citizens,” he said.
Mr Bamigbad Oluranti, Public Relation Officer, Borstal Training Institution, Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State
On his part, Mr Jimoh Kazeem, a social worker with the Kwara State Ministry for Social Development, said he has been in the field in the last seven years providing one form of social services or the other.
“But I have never felt so equipped to deliver my tasks efficiently and effectively until now.
“The series of capacity building training has exposed me to real cases that have changed my approach to social work completely.
“The project has given me the opportunity to understand the depth of social work by exposing me to practical aspects and real-life situations, beyond the theoretical aspect that we are all used to.” Kazeem said.
Another social worker in the ministry, Mrs Dangana Yetunde, said that the capacity building training has been very impactful.
“I have learnt a lot about how to handle children, how to interview them and how to handle information about children that would not expose them to certain risks.
“It has changed my perspective on how to relate with children as a social worker; the project has opened my eyes to certain things I need to pay attention to, and what I should not do when interacting with a child,” Yetunde said.
Yetunde added that the child protection and case management training has taught her a lot, particularly the crucial role of data in case management and how to track the support being provided and the impact it is creating on the lives of the children.
Dr Alebiosu Emmanuel, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Save the Future of Children Initiative, sharing experience after a case management visit to some of the freed children in Ilorin
Also, Dr Alebiosu Emmanuel, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, SAFIN, described the project as a “game changer” in the delivery of social work in Kwara.
“The project has placed me on a level that I can give my best in making Kwara a better and safe place for children.
“I am not only equipped with the rudiment of social protection and case management but also how to work for the best interest of the children as a non-state actor working in the child protection sector.
“Now I know how to better communicate with children to build the needed trust and how to work with children while noting the protective concerns and risk level during assessment,” he said.
Addressing the challenge of government ownership and sustainability
To ensure adequate prevention and response to violence, abuse, and neglect, stakeholders stressed the need for government ownership of the support being provided by UNICEF.
Mr Olufemi Oyedeji, Chief Executive Officer, SAFIN, particularly called on the Kwara government to sustain the support UNICEF was currently providing to cover other children in need of help.
Oyedeji insisted that the state government must fully implement its Child Rights Law 2007, to make any significant progress in the protection of the rights and welfare of the child.
Responding, the State’s Commissioner for Social Development, Mrs Abosede Aremu, thanked UNICEF, SAFIN and other partners supporting the state to reintegrate the children to their families and support them to live productive lives.
Aremu reiterated the government resolved to work towards sustaining the protection of the interest of children for the development of the state.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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