Report by AMINU DALHATU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
United Nations Children Fund-UNICEF has expressed optimism over the commitment of Zamfara state government in the area of education and remodeling of hospitals to improve living conditions of people, especially children.
The UNICEF Country representative in Nigeria, Ms Christian Munduate stated this during a courtesy visit to Governor Dauda Lawal at government House Gusau.
Ms Munduate also expressed satisfaction over the schools she visited, described it as highly commendable and one great example in the education sector.
She urged Governor Lawal to expand such school projects to rural areas, described education as key to prosperity.
“I am really impressed for the priority your leadership is being placed to social basic services. Sir, of course health, education, Nutrition, Water Sanitation is for every body, What we have seen in Zamfara is rapid result. We want the country to see things can be done if there is commitment and will to do”.
She asked the Government to prioritize more on education to make it sustainable with a particular focus on out-of-school- children to enable them have access to basic education and quality life, stressing that collective commitment and action are keys to achieving the set goal.
Ms Christian Munduate assured UNICEF’s determination to provide support in the area of out of school children to improve their lives.
Ms Christian Munduate also stressed the need for Zamfara government to maintain polio virus-free status in the state and commended it effort in that regard.
Responding, Governor Dauda Lawal said his administration is set to embark on reconstruction and renovation of the Primary healthcare centres in the State, beginning with sixty- two in the first phase to improve the standard of the facilities.
Dr Lawal explained that, since September 2023, there has never been a single case of polio virus in the State.
The Visit of Nigeria’s Country representative of the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Ms Cristian Munduate has provided an opportunity for Governor Dauda Lawal to roll out his administration’s efforts toward improving healthcare and education and how UNICEF can support the initiatives to make life better for children.
According to him, his administration has reconstructed and renovated six out of the 14 General Hospitals, equipped them with state-of-the-art- facility, and over four hundred primary and Secondary schools, as well as the construction of three Tsaganya Schools in each of the three Senatorial zones.
He also said that his administration has keyed into the World Bank Programme Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment to return out of school children in Zamfara to school, especially the girls.
