Bauchi Emirs Partner With UNICEF, SUBEB to Address Out-of-school Children Problems

By Idris Ayinde

The Bauchi State Council of Emirs has expressed commitment to partner with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to address Out-of-school children problems.

Speaking on behalf of others on Sunday during a one-day State Level Consultative meeting on the 2024/25 Enrolment Drive Campaign, the Emir of Bauchi, Alh. Rilwanu Adamu, said the Emirs are ready to lead the campaign so as to return the Out-of-school children back to school.

Adamu, who is also the Chairman, Bauchi State Council of Emirs, said there is the need for collaboration among all stakeholders to overcome the challenges in the education sector.

He also assured the Council’s commitment to ensure that all teachers perform their duties diligently, parents send their children to school and traditional leaders at various levels are mobilised for the success of the campaign.

“I want to restate the commitment of the Council and hope that all issues raised and deliberated here would be implemented to the latter,” he said.

In her address, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Bauchi State, called on the traditional institutions to advocate for the holistic implementation and rollout of the State Child Protection Law 2023.

She also urged them to advocate for increased investment in education from the current budgetary allocation of 16 per cent to a minimum of 20 per cent, as well as recruitment and deployment of qualified teachers among others in the state.

She appreciated Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state for his continued partnership with UNICEF in improving the education outcomes in the state.

“Education is not just a tool for personal growth; it is a fundamental right that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and transforms societies.

“We are deeply concerned with the rate of out-of-school children, and low learning achievement in the country, especially in the North-East region and Bauchi state inclusive,” she said.

According to her, the situation called for a concerted effort by the relevant stakeholders to address the challenges in the state.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Ali Babayo appreciated development partners and all stakeholders for their commitment towards reversing the negative indices in the education sector.

In his remark, the state’s Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Adamu Duguri, said that education and security deteriorated when the traditional institutions were relegated to the background.

He stressed that for the state to bring back the lost glory of education, traditional leaders must be placed at the forefront of the campaign to achieve the set targets.

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