The United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) has promised to support the federal government on the data update of school enrollment in Nigeria. It is also seeking government support for its effort towards the delivery of more development projects in the states.
UNICEF Country Director, Ms. Jean Gough said this in Abuja during a visit to the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i,when she noted that there is need to strengthen partnership with the ministry as a key sector, along with health, for the desired results.
“We are also prepared to support the ministry’s effort to update data on school’s enrollment and hope to make available the NEMIS report ready by July”, Gough said.
She said UNICEF will appreciate the minister’s intervention to encourage state governments to provide counter-part funds for their projects, saying a situation where responsibilities will be shared with states to ensure timely delivery on intervention projects will be appreciated.
The UNICEF Country Director also said Abia, Borno and Riversstates have not concluded their schools’ census, but informed the minister that Borno State had shown interest by setting aside N20 million for the data collection and management with Nasarawa State as centre for training of their staff and analysis of schools census materials.
In her response, Prof Rufa’i assured the UNICEF representative that she will convey the message to the governors in their next meeting, stressing that it was normal for states to provide counter-part funding for intervention projects.
She also reassured UNICEF that despite the state of emergency some schools were still open with students attending classes.