UNICEF commends FG on partnership

MAKURDI – UNICEF Chief Field Officer in Nigeria, Mr Charles Nzuki, has commended the Federal Government on its partnership and good working relationship with the Fund.
Nzuki, who made the commendation on Tuesday in Makurdi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said UNICEF was receiving `tremendous’ support from the federal and some state governments.
“We are receiving a lot of support from the Nigerian government.
“The government is complimenting our efforts especially in the areas of personnel and human development,” he said.
He attributed the increasing child mortality rate in Africa on the low standard of health facilities
He added that an effective health care system would help to reduce the number of children being born in Africa.
Nzuki stressed the need for African women to be educated before marriage to enable them understand the rudiments of child upbringing and improved personal hygiene.
“Women need to acquire education to understand the rudiments of child upbringing and improved personal hygiene for the good health of their children,’’ he said.
The UNICEF official decried the number of African youths forced to live on the streets due to unemployment and poverty.
He said the organisation was collaborating with the federal government to identify the areas Nigerian youths could be assisted.
He blamed African governments for failing to initiate programmes that would have direct economic impact on their youths.
He expressed concern that some African leaders were busy promoting thuggery in their countries instead of providing job opportunities for their youths.
Nzuki also chided some African governments for their inability to provide security for their citizens.
He said that the major responsibility of governments all over the world was to safeguard the lives of their citizens.
The field officer said that every African child of school age must be in school to end thuggery, child abuse and other social vices plaguing the continent.
“The best place for a child is a school. At school, incidents of child abuse are mitigated. We do not want the children to be bread winners of their families at a tender age. (NAN)