By Oluseye Ojo
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will commit $16 million to its three-year working implementation plan in Oyo State towards unlocking potentials to achieve the rights of every child in the state.
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in the state, Prof Musbau Babatunde, made the disclosure at a child rights advocacy dialogue with all the 33 chairmen of local government areas and other relevant stakeholders in the state on strengthening local governance for child rights realisation at the grassroots, held in Oyo town, yesterday.
The programme, organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in collaboration with UNICEF, Lagos Field Office, was geared towards getting stakeholders to prioritise children, plan for children, budget for children and spend for children from bottom up in view of the autonomy granted to local government in terms of allocations.
Babatunde, who was represented by the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Alhaji Kolawole Bello, said UNICEF has pledged to commit $5.2 million to the project in 2025 alone.
He appreciated UNICEF for its efforts and support for the state, saying: “UNICEF has a three-year working implementation plan in the state that is over $16 million to be spent over the three years.
“However, in 2025 alone, UNICEF has pledged to commit over $5.2 million, in support of its activities in Oyo State.”
The Social Policy Manager, UNICEF, Mr. Muhammad Okorie, said the state is critical for UNICEF, based on the population of children which, he said, is not less than 3.4 million.
“It is surprising that in Oyo State, today, only about 23 per cent of all eligible children are fully immunised, when immunisation is free. And where does this happen? It takes place at the local government level. Oyo State has a health insurance agency. But we know, today, that we have less than eight per cent of enrollment in that scheme.”
Okorie noted that the rate of female genital mutilation still stood at 32 per cent in the state, apart from the issues of the out-of-school children, and birth registration, despite all efforts and potentials of the state government.
“So, today, we are here to have that conversation, to elicit that commitment from the people, who have the power to do that, now, we are committed to making a difference.
The good news is, today, the local governments are better placed than they were ever. That means the possibility of making a difference is here. And we really want to harness this.”
Chairman, Association of Local Government (ALGON) in the state, Sikiru Oyedele, who was represented by Chairman, Oyo West Local Government, Salami Akeem, promised that all the chairmen would return to their respective councils to advance rights of children.
“With what we learnt at this programme, we know where to come in to make sure we have advancement on the rights of children,” he said.
Head of Social Policy, Research, and Data of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Dr. Lara Ejiade; Chairman of Head of Local Government Administration in the state, Alhaji Moruff Owolabi; Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Simeon Oyeleke, in their separate goodwill messages, emphasised the need for local government administration to key into protection of inalienable rights of children.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Tunde Ayanleke, represented by the Director, Macro Economic Planning, Ademola Adediran, appreciated the commitment of the state government under Governor Makinde, in collaboration with UNICEF, towards improving the lives of women and children in the state.
The joint commitment, he said, had led to achievements, including reduction in stunting from 37 per cent to 24 per cent; and development of the state Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.