Government, UNICEF to spend N1.3bn on child survival

ben adhoc

February 11, 2016 12:09 PM

"Through the programme, we will harness state resources to increase child survival and improve the livelihood of our people,’’ the governor stressed.

Niger State House of Assembly Speaker, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, on Thursday in Minna signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UNICEF towards providing basic education to children in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of N1.3bn is expected to be spent over the next few years as part of UNICEF's programme of providing basic education and increasing child survival rate in developing countries.

Bello said that the agreement was in fulfilment of his campaign promise of improving the livelihood of the people.

"This MOU is a supportive programme from UNICEF.

In his remarks, Mr Utpal Moitra, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, said that the partnership would focus on providing assistance in the areas of health, education, adequate nutrition and safe drinking water to children in the state.

"We, at UNICEF Kaduna, are working together with three states and Niger is one of them.

"We are contributing about 70 per cent of the funding while the state government will contribute 30 per cent,’’ he said.

ben adhoc