Niger state government on Tuesday tasked the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders through innovations to protect children in emergencies.
Alhaji Mamman Musa, the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, stated this during the 2020 End-Year Review and Planning meeting organised by Niger state government in collaboration with UNICEF in Minna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the objectives of the meeting was to review key priority areas with strategic activities and results for children in 2020.
Other objectives was to update the state-level work plan with target and key activities budget for 2021 as well as draft the state level sectoral plan for Jan. to Dec., 2021.
Musa, who was represented by Hajiya Ramatu Umaru, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said that the 2020 review meeting should take a different approach from just taking stock of achievements.
He said the meeting should dwell more on how to build resilience and response mechanism to emergencies and crises.
“2020 has been a challenging year globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting livelihood, children and their collective wellbeing, it has been a trying year,” she said.
The commissioner appreciated UNICEF’s continuous interest and partnership with the state government as they collectively work for the wellbeing of mothers and their children.
In his remarks, Dr Zakari Adam, Chief Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, said the meeting was to review targeted objectives and challenges and see how to forge ahead as well as plan for 2021.
“This is to challenge ourselves to achieve more results and common understanding on how to work together to improve on the lives of children,” he said. (NAN)