ECW, UNICEF releases $50m to assist education sector in BAY states

She noted that the first phase of the project improved access for over 530,000 marginalised children across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, and  benefited more than the initial 170,000 children targeted, she said the second phase targets 130, 000 students

By Daniel Oyakhire Iregbeyen, Maiduguri

The United Nations Children’s Fund on Wednesday said it is supporting Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe(BAY) with 50 million dollar intervention to advance education programs in the region.

Speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri during the launch of the second phase of multi-year resilience education program (MYRP) funded by Education Cannot Wait ( ECW), Vanessa Lee , the  UNICEF Chief of Education, said the fund will enhance access to  learning in schools and non-formal education centers.

She noted that the first phase of the project improved access for over 530,000 marginalised children across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, and  benefited more than the initial 170,000 children targeted, she said the second phase targets 130, 000 students

She said “this is a very important event for the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states because we are launching the Education Can not Wait, a multi-year resilience program which is giving 50 million dollars to the three states as intervention in education  to support children’s access to learning and their quality learning in schools and non formal education centers.

“The total number of  students we are targeting this time around is 130, 000, but there are many other targets including children with special needs, training teachers, and supporting children, especially girls to go to school. A whole range of different targets” she noted

“This program starts now, it’s for three years. We have implemented to be implemented across the three state” she added

She furthermore noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s Roadmap for the period 2024-2027 which outlines the building blocks and strategies to address critical education challenges and capitalise on strategic opportunities in order to transform and elevate access to quality of education in alignment with national goals and global standards.

While expressing optimism that the program will achieve it’s intended goal, she said “This launch will formally kick off the programme in the three states and I hope it will be well coordinated and implemented under the leadership of State and Federal ministry of education”

“The main objective of this event is to officially kick off the implementation of the three-year project 2025-2027) which aims at building on the efforts and achievements made in the first phase of the project which ended in November 2024.” she stated

Also speaking, the Borno state Commissioner of Education, Abba Wakilbe commended UNICEF support to the BAY states while assuring that the states will not relent in promoting educational initiatives 

“We pledge to give you our hundred percent support. We thank you very much for this, and we welcome you all.” he said