UNICEF, Blaugrana Group partner on girl-child education

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is partnering with Blaugrana Group International to prepare the children, especially the girl-child, for a meaningful future and enable them lead worthy and fulfilling lives through quality education.

Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall, disclosed that the partnership was in support of existing projects aimed at providing quality, accessible and affordable education for Nigerian children, especially the most vulnerable in the troubled areas across the country and by extension, the world.  

“ This phenomenon is a global challenge. Though in the African sphere, Nigeria is the most hit,” he said.Chairman, Blaugrana Group International, Leslie Oghomienor, frowned at the situation in the Northeast where thousands of innocent children are deprived of education due to activities of the dreaded Boko Haram group.

“Teachers and students have been killed. Schools have been razed or shut over security challenges.  For us at Blaugrana Group International, this is the time to act. This is the right time to protect our children’s future by providing quality and accessible education.” From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka.He added: “Nothing gives us inner joy than being involved in novel projects geared at making the world a better place than we met it. We are more excited working with the children. There is too much beauty in children, irrespective of race or creed. In them, you see God in action. This is the best of time to do something good.”

Oghomienor said the partnership with UNICEF would be in well-defined and articulated projects in line with the visions of both organisations.UNICEF, in its latest report revealed “Forty per cent of Nigerian children aged between six and 11 do not attend any primary school, with the Northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate, particularly for girls. Despite a significant increase in net enrollment rates in recent years, it is estimated that about 4.7 million children of primary school age are still not in school.

“Increased enrollment rates have also created challenges in ensuring quality education and satisfactory learning achievement as resources are spread more thinly across a growing number of students. It is not rare to see cases of 100 pupils per teacher or students sitting under trees outside the school building because of the lack of classrooms.”