Over 70% of the children in Jigawa State are multidimensionally poor.
The Chief of the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) Kano Field Office (KFO) who oversees Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, Mr. Rahma Farah, stated that in Jigawa State, over 70 percent of the children were multidimensionally poor. This statement was duly affirmed at the launching of the state’s 2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) on December 1, 2022, in Dutse. The MICS survey was conducted in 2021 and had its results released in August 2022.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is a household survey which was developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the provision internationally comparable, statistically rigorous data on children and women’s situation and is being implemented by countries under UNICEF program. According to Farah, Nigerian children face serious multidimensional deprivations with almost all the states in the Northwest of Nigeria recording higher rates of poverty than the national average. There is a prediction of about 65 percent of children in the Northwest who are multidimensionally poor.
From 2011-2021, Jigawa had the highest under 5 mortality rate.
Of the three states – Kano, Katsina and Jigawa – among the Kano Field Office (KFO), Jigawa had the highest child deprivation rate with 73.9 percent of children in the state recorded as being multidimensionally poor. The Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office further asserted that the high deprivation rate reveals that the rights of children in the state are left unfulfilled. A long list of children in Jigawa are denied their basic rights for protection, survival and development.
Furthermore, the 2021 MICS result for Jigawa State reported another indicator, in terms of health, which reflects the state as below the national averages. This indicator is the under-five mortality rate under which Jigawa State had the highest under-five mortality, from 2011-2021, in comparison to Kano and Katsina; the indicator therefore reported 70 points above the national average. However, Farah stated that there has been a reduction in the under-five mortality by 37 percent; a progress which requires continuity and sustenance.
Farah calls on community leaders for innovative strategies.
In addition, MICS report for 2021, in the aspects of immunization indicates that the Penta III coverage has experienced significant improvement in the state. Regardless, in terms of education, over 40 percent of primary school children are out of school. The MICS 2021 has nonetheless included a new foundational learning module that enables the measurement of the level of foundational numeracy and literacy skills of children aged 7 to 12. This indicator reveals that the learning achievement situation in the state was declining.
Mr. Farah, due to the report of the MICS urged community leaders, politicians, international sectors, policy makers, civil society organizations and state parliamentarians in every sector to devote efforts and innovative strategies for improvement of the present human development condition in Jigawa State. These strategies are mainly for improvement of the wellbeing of women and children who appear to be most vulnerable. The MICS Data for the state raised concerns at the meeting, which are likely to be addressed.
MICS Data would help Jigawa address challenges.
Farah claims that Jigawa, being the second provider of potable drinking water in the country, is trying its best to ensure that there is an improvement in the aspect of education, health and other sectors. It was also affirmed that the governor of the state, His Excellency Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, is expected to organize a committee to figure out reasons for the negative outcomes together with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Despite the state’s curiosity to find out why there are negative outcomes, it is believed that the surveys will help them re-strategize to address their challenges.
Related Link
MICS.UNICEF: Website
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For children to be multidimensionally poor this is so disheartening in Jigawa,the government and stakeholders need to do more for these children they are the future of our nation
For is one of the societal issues we are all faced with. I’m so distraught about the Jigawa children. The government of Jigawa should see what they can do to help alleviate these children from poverty.
All this data coming from this region is very alarming and most international pump money to this people without any tangible result at the end of the day because most of these leaders are very corrupt,they divert the money giving to them into their own personal use,living the state into abject poverty.
Nice that UNICEF designed the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey as a household survey to provide countries with comprehensive global, sophisticated statistical data on the situation of children and women.
Almost every state in the Northwestern part of Nigeria has poverty rates that are greater than the national average, and this has a significant impact on the lives of Nigeria’s children.
It’s sad that a large number of children in Jigawa are denied their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness due to the state’s extremely high prevalence of child deprivation.
Glad to hear a new foundational learning module has been included to MICS 2021, allowing for the assessment of 7–12-year-olds’ rudimentary numeracy and reading skills.
All these methods are mostly geared toward enhancing the health and well-being of children and women, who appear to be the most susceptible population.
The state is curious about the causes of the undesirable results but hopes that the surveys will help them rethink their approach to tackling the problems they face.
It is heartbreaking to see children in Jigawa suffering from poverty. The state and relevant parties must do more to help these kids, who represent hope for Nigeria’s future.
The administration of Jigawa should investigate the options available to them in order to assist in lifting these youngsters out of poverty.
The evidence coming out of this region is quite concerning, and yet most international donors continue to pour money into the region despite the fact that the majority of its officials are corrupt.
More needs to be done by the key stakeholders and the government for these youngsters since they are the leaders of tomorrow
It is heartbreaking to see children in Jigawa suffering from poverty.
It is the duty of the administration of Jigawa to investigate the options available to them in order to assist in setting free the young ones from poverty bondage.
This is devastating to hear. Imagine the kind of situation these children’s will be with little or no secure food. Significant figure and bodies should aid the children with grants and donation.
The rate of poverty in jigawa is really worse the government should do something to reduce the poverty there people are really suffering there these children need to be taking care they are the leader of tomorrow
Over 70% of the children in Jigawa state are multidimensionally poor is as a result of bad political leaders like our President Buhari doesn’t and the governor of Jigawa state. The have successfully impoverished the nation.
What is the governor of Jigawa state doing to have that amount of figure ; over 70% children are multidimensionally poor. The present administration has succeeded in leading this country to where we are.
MICS provide 2021 result for Jigawa State. It pains me a lot seeing children suffering because of poverty. Children are not meant to suffer poverty, they are innocent. I pray for good government
This data are very disheartening. So much poverty in the land. The MICS 2021 has nonetheless included a new foundational learning module that enables the measurement of the level of foundational numeracy and literacy skills of children aged 7 to 12.
The MICS report advised state MPs, community leaders, and representatives from foreign organizations, political parties, and other sectors to use creative thinking to improve Jigawa State’s current human development situation.