Leading experts have called for urgent increases in public financing for children as a strategic move to accelerate growth and development in Nigeria’s North-East region. During a panel discussion held in Gombe State, the experts highlighted that prioritizing budget allocations for children is key to overcoming poverty and fostering rapid development in the area.
The event, organized by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, focused on the critical importance of child-sensitive budgeting in the North-East, which has been significantly affected by poverty and underdevelopment. Opeyemi Olagunju, UNICEF’s Communication Officer, emphasized that increased financial investments in children’s welfare could lead to substantial economic and social progress in the region.
“Allocating adequate funds for children will result in tremendous development not only in the North-East but across Nigeria,” one panelist remarked, underscoring the transformative potential of strategic public financing for children’s needs.
The panelists warned that neglecting children’s financial needs would exacerbate the region’s poverty crisis, calling for state governments to make child-centered budget allocations a priority. “Children are at the heart of development,” another expert echoed, stressing the need for long-term investments in education, health, and social protection for the region’s youth.
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UNICEF has been at the forefront of advocating for increased public financing for children, especially in Nigeria’s most vulnerable areas like the North-East. The panelists urged state governors to not only allocate funds but also ensure effective implementation of policies that support children’s welfare.
The discussion also touched on the implementation of social protection policies in the North-East. The panelists urged governors to strengthen these efforts by appointing more women to public positions, arguing that empowered women are crucial to the success of social protection initiatives.
The two-day dialogue, which brought together experts from all six states in the North-East, concluded with a unanimous call for increased focus on child-sensitive budgeting to spur growth and create brighter futures for the region.
