UNICEF Praises Nigeria for Rescuing Abducted Pupils

UNICEF commended the Nigerian government for the successful rescue of 39 abducted pupils and five teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State. The commendation came during a visit by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell to Abuja, where she met with First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Thursday.

Russell acknowledged Tinubu's efforts in prioritizing women and children through various interventions, particularly the Renew Hope Initiative, which has led to a significant increase in birth registrations, with 14 million children registered across Nigeria in two years. Additionally, Russell recognized Tinubu's pivotal role in campaigning against female genital mutilation.

The First Lady expressed her relief at the safe return of the abducted children and highlighted concerns regarding the increasing number of school children, particularly almajiri, and the need for formal education and skill acquisition programs. The UNICEF delegation included representatives such as Wafaa Abdelatef, Ted Mari, Marlen Jensen, and Nabila Jamsh.