Committed to actualising its core mandate of ensuring protection and a conducive learning environment for children globally, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has equipped 31 teachers under its School Safety Project.

The initiative, under the UNICEF Education and Youth Empowerment Project in Northern Nigeria (EYEPINN), funded by the European Union (EU) in Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto states, is targeted at expanding access to safe, inclusive learning environments and addressing gender abuse.

Addressing journalists during a capacity-building session for the teachers on Sunday, EYEPINN Kano State Facilitator, Aisha Abdullahi, explained that the four-year project, which started in September 2023, is targeted to capture 720 public schools, including primary, secondary, integrated and non-integrated Islamic and Quranic schools in 10 local government areas.

She situated the objectives of the project as geared toward increasing the number of girls and boys benefiting from safe, inclusive, relevant learning and skills development opportunities across the operational areas of Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto states. Nigerian Airways plane models

“In Kano, the pilot scheme is being implemented in 10 LGAs, including Nasarawa, Kano Municipal, Dala, Gwale, Sumaila, Gezawa, Dawakin-Tofa, Danbatta, Makoda, and Tudun-Wada. The project in Kano also targets 480,000 learners and 2,000 teachers across 2,160 communities,” Abdullahi explained.

On her part, Dr. Ummi Faruq Mohammad, one of the master trainers, also emphasised the overall projection of the EU and UNICEF on the project, chief among them, to prevent children from security threats, natural disasters, and gender-based violence during teaching and learning.

Dr. Mohammad disclosed that the participants (teachers) were exposed to basic and advanced knowledge in Climate Change, Literacy Education, Early Warning Signs, and General Safety Tips, and would further cascade the knowledge gained to other tutors for onward transfer to the children.

“The goal is to ensure our children are safe in schools. The master trainers, who are the teachers selected across 10 local government areas, are taught how they can ensure a safe environment for teaching and learning in schools, making sure the pupils are safe.

“On climate change, especially as the impact directly affects the children, we expect the teachers to cascade what they have learned to the children. When we have floods, accidents, insecurity, it affects the children and the learning environment. Also, to ensure our schools are safe from sexual harassment and gender abuse,” Dr. Mohammad noted.

An education expert with UNICEF, Munthaka Mustapha Mohammad, maintained that the School Safety Project under the European Union funding is one among several social intervention initiatives being executed by UNICEF in collaboration with the state government.

He stressed the commitment of the international donor to safe and healthy environments for children to learn and attain their full potential in life.