UNICEF has vowed to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Katsina State, Nigeria. In partnership with the Katsina State government, UNICEF launched a cash transfer program in June 2022 to provide learning opportunities for over 20,000 out-of-school children. The program aims to improve school enrollment and attendance rates, particularly for girls, and provide literacy and numeracy skills linked to employability and livelihood schemes. With 536,132 children currently out of school in Katsina State, this initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring every child has access to quality education.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting the government’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Katsina State. “Education is a fundamental right, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to quality learning opportunities,” Munduate said.
The cash transfer program, funded by the European Union, provides a monthly stipend to caregivers of out-of-school children who enroll in the program. This incentive helps to address poverty-related barriers to education and encourages families to prioritize their children’s education.
In addition to the cash transfer program, UNICEF is also supporting the Katsina State government in improving the quality of education in schools, including teacher training, provision of learning materials, and renovation of classrooms.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State expressed his appreciation for UNICEF’s support, stating, “We are committed to reducing the number of out-of-school children in our state, and we believe that this partnership with UNICEF will help us achieve our goal.”
With the combined efforts of UNICEF, the Katsina State government, and other stakeholders, there is hope for a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Katsina State and improved access to quality education for all.
