Chibok Schoolgirls Abduction Memorial: UNICEF Calls For Increased Protection Of Nigerian Children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for increased efforts to protect the country’s most vulnerable population: children.

The call was made in a statement commemorating the tenth anniversary of the abduction of schoolgirls by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

The statement read: “As Nigeria commemorates the tenth anniversary of the mass Chibok abductions in the northeast, 90 girls remain in captivity, and the country is recovering from another abduction of schoolchildren in Kaduna state in March of this year. UNICEF is calling for increased efforts to protect the country’s most vulnerable population: its children.

UNICEF’s Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) Monitoring Report, released on Monday, revealed a stark reality: the journey to ensure every Nigerian child can learn in a safe environment is far from over.

The report found that only 37% of schools in ten states have early warning systems in place to detect threats such as school attacks.

Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, stated: “The kidnapping of the Chibok girls was a wake-up call to the serious risks our children face in their pursuit of education,” adding that: “Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is clear that our efforts to protect our children’s futures must be amplified. Given these alarming statistics, we must address both the symptoms and the root causes of the crisis. Education is a fundamental right that provides a vital pathway out of poverty. However, for too many Nigerian children, it remains an unattainable dream.”

The analysis examined six outcome areas – strong school systems, violence against children, natural hazards, conflict, everyday hazards, and safe school infrastructure – and found significant disparities in the implementation of safe school standards across Nigerian states.

It demonstrates Borno State’s strong commitment to child safety in the face of adversity, as evidenced by a 70% compliance rate with the standards. Yobe State has also made promising progress. In contrast, Kaduna and Sokoto states lag significantly, with fulfilment rates of only 25% and 26%, respectively. In addition to the findings on early warning systems and conflict, the report shows that while schools perform relatively well in terms of training school-based management committees on safety and responding to children’s well-being concerns, only 14% of participating schools across the ten assessed states have functioning, safe, accessible infrastructure, and only 36% of school staff are trained on natural hazards.

According to the statement, “the analysis follows disturbing reports of violence affecting schools, with brazen student abductions on the rise.” According to verified United Nations reports, conflict-related violence has resulted in more than 1,680 children abducted while at school or elsewhere; 180 children killed as a result of school attacks; an estimated 60 school staff kidnapped and 14 killed; and more than 70 school attacks in the last decade.

“The threat of student abduction has a severe impact on children’s learning. According to Policy Weekly by Nextier, more than one million children were afraid to return to school in 2021, and approximately 11,500 schools were closed in 2020 due to attacks.

UNICEF Nigeria has therefore called on the government, partners, and the international community to take decisive action to: Ensure all schools across all states have the resources and tools to fully implement the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, focusing on the most vulnerable regions; Address critical gaps in safe school infrastructure, preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts, and comprehensive approaches to violence against children; Strengthen law enforcement

“Prioritise education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children; ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are closed through multiple learning pathways such as radio and television programmes and digital platforms like the Nigeria Learning Passport.”

UNICEF stated that it is collaborating with the government to ensure that every child has access to safe learning environments. It has also supported the establishment of state safe school steering committees and the development of state-costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 states, as well as the provision of school grants, safety kits, training, and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools.

Munduate stated, “As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose right to education has been violated, let this solemn anniversary serve as a catalyst for change. However, we must acknowledge the recent abductions, which highlight our schools’ persistent vulnerability. To ensure that schools are safe havens, strong political will and effective implementation of safe school standards are required. Together, we can rebuild trust between educational institutions and the communities they serve, ensuring that schools are safe spaces for learning and growth.”