By Faridat Salifu
In a statement released on Monday by Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, it was revealed that Nigeria ranks as the second most vulnerable country globally regarding children’s exposure to climate change.
The report highlighted that more than 110 million children in Nigeria are currently facing the harsh realities of escalating temperatures, as part of the commemoration of the 2023 World Children’s Day.
The World Children’s Day, originally established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day, is observed annually on Nov. 20 to promote international unity, raise awareness among children worldwide, and enhance children’s well-being. The theme for this global observance day is “For Every Child, Every Right”.
The statement further emphasized that Nigerian children are also grappling with challenges such as flooding, drought, and severe storms.
Displacement of children due to environmental disasters, particularly floods, has affected an estimated 650,000 children in Nigeria between 2016 and 2021.
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The 2023 World Children’s Day in Nigeria was dedicated to focusing on child rights amidst the escalating climate crisis.
Various events took place across the country, with children from regions such as Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Sokoto, and Maiduguri leading discussions on the significant impact of climate change on their lives and future.
Munduate underlined the direct health impact of climate change on children, citing increased physical perils, waterborne diseases, and malnutrition.
Additionally, the statement shed light on the alarming rate of child displacement due to environmental disasters and reiterated the risk faced by over 110 million Nigerian children from rising temperatures, flooding, drought, and severe storms.
The Officer in Charge, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr. Clement Adams, emphasized the importance of celebrating children and creating a conducive environment for their development and well-being.
During the inter-school quiz competition held in Gombe State, Government Girls Secondary School, Doma, emerged in the first position with 21 points, followed by Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, taking the second position with 20 points, and Government Day Science Secondary School, Gombe, securing the third position with 18 points.
