Kaduna State Government in collaboration with the United Nation Children Fund UNICEF and development partners have flagged off the disbursement of conditional cash transfer and learning materials to over two thousand children Almajiris roaming the streets.
Deputy governor of the State Dr Hadiza Balarabe flagged off the disbursement in Kaduna.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff in her office Mr James Kanyip, said the programme had commenced with 2,674 almajirai who will each receive N5,000 each as cash transfer.
According to her, the donors plan to increase the cash transfer to N10,000 each in subsequent months to ensure that the children are enrolled and kept in schools.
According to him, the stakeholders involved in the almajiri project include the National Population Commission which is providing the children with birth cetificates, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board which is providing reading materials, Keystone Bank opened accounts for the beneficiaries, Kaduna State Resident Identity Management Agency is registering and enrolling the children with National Identity Numbers (NIN) while UNICEF is providing the funds for the cash disbursement and expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders and development partners for their support for the initiative.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe maintained that the state Government is working to raise the income level of parents and youths in the state.
“We are hoping to empower as many citizens as possible with means of generating incomes to support their families. If families can be taken care of, the number of street children will reduce”
“The government also took steps to address the distortions in the Almajirci/Tsangaya system and ensure that no child is left behind in enjoying the right to Education”.
The State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba said the purpose of the intervention is to support their re-integration in their communities.
Hajiya Baba explained that, the transfer is conditional, and has prompted collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the child protection services subsector.
“We will open discussions with KADCHMA to seek ways to enroll the families into the Health Insurance Scheme and hope to get the collaboration of the LGA Chairmen to achieve this”.
According to her, the intervention is a synergy of services brought together under one project to better deliver the needed escape from deprivation experienced by these almajirai, stressing that, they took the initiative with UNICEF to create a sustainable model solution to the problems of Almajiris.
The UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Dr Wilfred Mamah disclosed that UNICEF’s partnership with Kaduna State, recorded the highest number of successful re-integration of Almajiri children in the whole country.
“These life-saving reunifications of children, incorporating remarkable stakeholder engagement and buy-ins have been well captured using the innovative Child Protection Information Management (CPIMS) Tool, established as part of our ongoing partnership”.
“As a follow up to this success, UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services launched Children in Street situation, including adolescent girls programme. A team of trained social workers and case managers were deployed to all the 23 Local Government areas of the State for initial documentation and verification of children that meet agreed vulnerability criteria”
“The Urgency for Services to pull children out of the streets The Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency Mal Ahmad Nasir El-Rufai, has maintained a consistent position that children should be in school and not on the streets”
“The Almajiri situation and the revolving door scenario that characterize it remain one of the critical drivers of out-of school children that blot the great achievements of this State. It is to reverse this trend that UNICEF is collaborating with the Ministry of Human Services to deliver critical services to the re united Almajiri children and facilitate their full integration with their communities.
“Working in collaboration with SUBEB, National Population Commission, Keystone Bank, Social Register, Kadrimma, Ministry of Local Government, led by Ministry of Human Services and Social”
“We are hoping that these initial services would be a springboard for further delivery of more concrete assistance to these children, including adolescent girls and ultimately enhancing human capital development in the State”
“In conclusion, we thank you immensely, Your Excellency, for the strong and exemplary leadership. We look forward to our continued partnership in ensuring that all children especially the most vulnerable children are reached with quality child protection services and are prevented from all forms of abuse, violence, and neglect”
COV/AMINU DALHATU