2m children remain out of school in Northeast –UNICEF

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that nearly two million children are currently out of school in northeast Nigeria.

The agency called on the media to amplify child rights issues in the region, shape national discourse, and drive collective action.

Mr. Joseph Senesie, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, disclosed this during a one-day Media Dialogue on Journalism Ethics and Child Rights in Damaturu, Yobe State.

He added that, “Nearly 2 million children remain out of school in Northeast.”

He highlighted that in 2024, UNICEF, in collaboration with state governments in the northeast, achieved significant milestones in child welfare.

“Nearly 600,000 severely malnourished children received life-saving treatment, while 1.2 million children were immunized with the pentavalent vaccine and 1.6 million people received the cholera vaccine,” he said.

He added that over 500,000 children (aged 0–59 months) were supported with birth registration.

“In Borno and Yobe states, 500,000 children accessed formal and non-formal education, while 32,215 zero-dose children received critical immunizations.

“However, only three in ten children in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa have had their births registered, while 12 LGAs in Borno and Yobe remain zero-dose communities for vaccinations,” he emphasized.

UNICEF urged journalists to conduct independent, accurate, and impactful reporting on both the successes and gaps in child welfare to shape the national agenda.

“As the fourth estate, your responsibility goes beyond disseminating facts—you shape narratives, expose injustice, and give voice to the most vulnerable, particularly in conflict-affected areas like Northeast Nigeria,” said Mr. Senesie.

He also said the role of the media in societal progress cannot be overstated. Journalists, as the fourth estate of the realm, must uphold factual and ethical reporting.

“This underscores the importance of refresher training for media practitioners to strengthen journalism principles and maintain professional excellence.”