70% of children in Kebbi ‘not in school’

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said about 70 per cent of children in Kebbi state are out of school.

Mohammed Mohiuddin, zonal head of the fund from Sokoto field office, made this known to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, during the end of year review meeting.

The meeting is expected to review the joint government and UNICEF annual work plan 2016 and finalise the work plan for 2017.

“Kebbi is one of those states in Nigeria with huge number of children who are out of the school; 70 per cent of children in Kebbi are out of school,” Muhiuddin said.

He said the fund was able to source for $75 million from the Qatar foundation under a programme called “Educate a Child Programme” in order to address the problem in the state.

“This programme covers four states: three states are under my Office – Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, and the other one is Katsina State. I tried my best to bring more money to Kebbi.”

He said 50 per cent of the amount would be used to address the problem in nine local government areas of Kebbi.

Mohiuddin explained that the aim of the joint review meeting between Kebbi state and UNICEF was to take stock of the progress made, challenges encountered and how those problems would be addressed.