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UNICEF: 300,000 Children Are Out of School in Katsina 

UNICEF: 300,000 Children Are Out of School in Katsina 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that no fewer than 300,000 children are currently out of school in Katsina State.

The Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Rahama Farah, disclosed this Thursday while unveiling the Nigerian Child 2025 Report at an event to commemorate the World Children’s Day in Kano.

Organised by the Kano State Radio Corporation in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Children’s Day brought together journalists from Katsina, Kano and Jigawa States. 

Farah, who quoted the 2025 report developed by UNICEF, said Katsina, Kano and Jigawa States account for 16 per cent of Nigeria’s 10.2 million out of school children.

He explained that while Katsina has 300,000 out of school children, Kano accounts for 900,000 and Jigawa state with over 330,000 children roaming the streets.

“Katsina, Kano and Jigawa together account for 16 per cent of Nigeria’s 10.2 million out of school children. Katsina alone has over 300,000 children out of school, Kano nearly 900,000 and Jigawa more than 330,000,” he said.

Quoting another report by the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2024), Farah stressed that Katsina has 64.6 per cent of stunted children, Kano 51.9 per cent and Jigawa with 55.7 per cent.

He added that children in rural communities across the three states are faced with barriers to health and nutrition but with support from UNICEF, “they are overcoming these challenges”.

He said: “UNICEF Kano Field Office has been working with the Governments of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States to address the development challenges affecting children as highlighted in the Nigerian Child 2025 report.”

He reiterated that UNICEF’s collaboration with the Katsina State Government has resulted in increased investment by the government in addressing severe acute malnutrition in the state.

According to him, the Katsina State Government has contributed over N1 billion for the procurement of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) under the Child Nutrition Match Fund (CNF). 

Farah further said Jigawa and Kano State governments have contributed N1 billion each for RUTF procurement to tackle the prevailing cases of malnutrition.

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Francis Sardauna in Katsina  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that no fewer than 300,000 children are currently out of school in Katsina State. The Chief of UNICEF Field

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Shettima Lauds Agribusiness Conglomerate’s Move To Create Over 6,000 Jobs With Multi-million Dollar Investments In Nigeria

Shettima Lauds Agribusiness Conglomerate’s Move To Create Over 6,000 Jobs With Multi-million Dollar Investments In Nigeria

* Assures firm of security of its investments

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has hailed the multi-million-dollar investment portfolio by African agribusiness conglomerate, Export Trading Group (ETG), in Nigeria, stating that ongoing reforms by the administration of President Bola Tinubu will guarantee the company’s investments.

According to him, the company’s interests across agro-logistics, fertilizer systems, seed production and industrial processing, among others, is commendable and fully aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

Shettima disclosed this on Thursday when he received in audience a delegation from the ETG led by its Global Chief Operating Officer, Mr Niren Murugan, at the State House, Abuja. 

“You have been in the country since 2010, but this time around, you have decided to play a more active role in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. This is where the action is. We have the population and abundance of resources for your investments to thrive.

“All your investment decisions are wonderful. I am particularly thrilled by your interventions especially in seed development, oil processing, fertilizer blending and agricultural extension services, among others. I commend the efforts of your team in Nigeria in the selection of locations for the proposed Centres of Excellence,” he stated.

The vice-president urged the company to explore the abundant opportunities across the country to expand its stakes in the country’s agricultural value chain, particularly in boosting food production.

Earlier, ETG’s Global COO, Murugan, said his visit was to inform the vice-president of the company’s investment portfolio in Nigeria, seek high-level alignment, secure government guidance and accelerate coordination with stakeholders in the public sectors across all levels. 

He announced the take-off of the company’s expanded multi-million-dollar oil processing facility in Sagamu, Ogun State by the second quarter of 2026, disclosing proposed investment pipelines in fertilizer blending, seed production and integrated agro-logistics, among others.

The COO also disclosed a collaboration to establish centres of agro-excellence in seven states of Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross River, Ekiti, Jigawa, Nasarawa and Borno to serve as regional hubs for the provision of inputs, mechanisation, storage and primary processing, among others.

On his part, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the conglomerate to harness the vast agricultural potentials of the state.

He said the state government has, on its part, carried sweeping reforms aimed at not only boosting agricultural productivity, but in building a sub-national economy that serves the rest of the country and gives the state an edge in revenue generation and food production. 

Otu also spoke about the state government’s vision to attract investments in port facilities, particularly the Bakassi Deep Seaport and Calabar Port projects.

“We can match your vision end-to-end. We have the land, the mineral resources and the enabling environment to make it happen,” the governor assured the company. 

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* Assures firm of security of its investments Deji Elumoye in Abuja  Vice-President Kashim Shettima has hailed the multi-million-dollar investment portfolio by African agribusiness conglomerate, Export Trading Group (ETG), in