The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified no fewer than 18.3 million Nigerian children currently lacking access to the four walls of the classrooms
The figures, came from the leadership of the organisation on Saturday in a statement through its Executive Director, Catherine Russell,
UNICEF also expressed sadness that the high number of children attending school are not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their future.
The organisation identified protection of the rights of every child irrespective of his or her background, as the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and unjust world for everyone.
They affirmed that the impact of such acts on children, shows the extent to which racism and discrimination impact children’s education, health, access to a registered birth, and a fair and equal justice system, and highlights widespread disparities among minority and ethnic groups.”
“Systemic racism and discrimination” as further stated by them “put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime.”
Affirming that “this hurts us all” they urged each and every individual as well as organizations to work round the clock to protect the rights of every child.
According to the statement “discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood.”
