UNICEF AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL OF ITS INTERVENTION IN THE PROBLEM OF OUT-OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE NIGER DELTA:
Livingstone Inegite Godknows
Volume 13 Issue 2
Abstract
This study examined the role of the United Nations in the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study assessed the impact of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in the development of the Niger Delta, with particular focus on out-of-school children (OOSC). The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach as well as the dependency theoretical framework. Moreover, the study relied on both primary and secondary data sources. Findings of the study shows that UNICEF interventions have had positive impact on activities that promote the wellbeing of children in the region. The findings further revealed that the main causes of out-of-school children are poor governance structure and weak enforcement of extant legislation’s on children education. The findings also suggest that UNICEF interventions cannot produce far-reaching results without a corresponding commitment from the government and policy makers in the region. The paper recommends attitudinal change by policy makers and increased budgetary allocation to the education sector, as well as the need to entrench a strong monitoring and evaluation system in the education sector, so as to prevent the diversion of funds meant for educational programmes that promote children enrolment in primary/secondary schools in the region. Keywords: Development, UNICEF, Out-of-School Children, Niger Delta
Download Paper