The European Union, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has committed to enrolling and enhancing the skills of 1.5 million children, youths, and adolescents in Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states.
Senior Education Manager of UNICEF, Kano Field Office, Michael Banda, announced this commitment during a multi-sectoral stakeholders meeting on the education and youth empowerment project in Kano on Wednesday.
The initiative aims to boost the number of girls and boys benefiting from secure, inclusive, and relevant learning opportunities, as well as skills development opportunities in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states.
Banda explained that the four-year program, running from October 2023 to August 2027, will encompass activities in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states.
He outlined the program’s main goals, including strengthening education governance and learning, expanding access to safe and inclusive learning environments, and enhancing the quality of continuous learning and competencies.
In Nigeria, Banda highlighted the challenge where many children aged seven to 14 struggle with basic literacy skills. The goal is to equip them with skills that will make them competitive, marketable, and self-sustaining, enabling them to start businesses.
The program will also focus on Integrated Qur’anic Schools, which offer an integrated curriculum encompassing literacy and numeracy in addition to religious education. Banda emphasized the aim to reach all, including those without space in formal schools.
Kano State has been selected as a primary beneficiary of the newly introduced European Union-funded education and empowerment program in Nigeria. Banda noted that Kano, due to its population and number of out-of-school children, will receive the largest share of the project.
He highlighted that the EU’s resources are not solely focused on Kano but also extend to the North-West, North-East, and other states in Nigeria.
The UNICEF education manager emphasized the EU’s consistent support as a partner in ensuring children’s access to quality education, and he expressed appreciation to the development partners for their support.
The Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, also praised the development partners for their commitment and reiterated the state government’s dedication to investing in the education sector.
