UNICEF Praises Katsina and Kano for Adopting Universal Child Benefit

UNICEF Praises Katsina and Kano for Adopting Universal Child Benefit

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has applauded the governments of Katsina and Kano for their commitment to piloting the Universal Child Benefit (UCB) program. This commendation was made by Fatima Musa, a social policy specialist at the UNICEF Kano field office, during the conclusion of a two-day workshop in Kaduna. The workshop, organized for the joint Child Poverty Technical Working Group (TWG), received support from UNICEF.

Ms. Musa emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that it comes at a crucial time for addressing child poverty. She highlighted that Katsina and Kano are the first states to express a firm interest in implementing the UCB, marking a significant achievement in the fight against child poverty.

According to Ms. Musa, piloting the UCB demonstrates the governments’ commitment to improving children’s lives. She stressed that this initiative should be backed by comprehensive social protection systems and quality social services, including healthcare and education, to be effective.

Ms. Musa also noted the potential benefits of the UCB, including reducing both monetary and non-monetary poverty among children and boosting local economies. The program aligns with UNICEF’s mission to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms.

Highlighting the severity of child poverty, Ms. Musa revealed that in Kano, 69.2% of children aged 0-17 are considered multidimensionally poor, while 59.5% are monetarily poor. The UCB program is seen as a vital step towards alleviating these conditions and ensuring a better future for the children in these states.