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China EXIM, UNICEF Sign MoU On Nigeria Children’s Well-being
The Export and Import Bank of China (China EXIM) and UNICEF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on essential services for the well-being of children in Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the MoU was officially signed at China EXIM’s office in Beijing, China, following a meeting attended by China EXIM Vice President Yang Dongning and UNICEF Representative to China Amakobe Sande.
Mr Jimmy Ebi witnessed it, the acting Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Nigeria to China.
It added that the MoU was the first such a partnership agreement between UNICEF and a China-based financial institution.
The fund also said the new partnership would help UNICEF deliver integrated healthcare, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.
This would be for vulnerable children and families in up to 12 healthcare facilities, 21 schools, 17 markets and 450 communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with support from China EXIM and the Government of Nigeria.
The fund said ensuring access to WASH services by 2030 was one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It added that in Nigeria, inadequate access to WASH services was a major driver of child deaths and an increase in vulnerability to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, which leads to over 70,000 deaths of children under five annually.
However, only 10 per cent of Nigeria’s 110 million children are estimated to have access to essential WASH services.
The statement said that UNICEF aims to ensure more children and their families have equitable access to climate-resilient and safely managed water and sanitation facilities and practice safe hygiene behaviours.
“The programme will include the scale-up of quality and comprehensive primary healthcare services in facilities and communities, including maternal and newborn care and immunisation services.
“It will also expand access to services through community engagement, social mobilisation and behaviour change, along with strengthening WASH-related systems, capacity and institutions.”
The statement quoted Sande as saying the fund was grateful to China EXIM for the partnership.
“We look forward to working together to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improve critical services that ensure the wellbeing of children.
“UNICEF also hopes that this will be the first of more partnerships to help accelerate child health and development goals for children worldwide.”
Meanwhile, Dongning appreciated UNICEF’s active contribution to the global cause for children.
“This Nigeria programme marks a new beginning in our cooperation, and its practical results will serve as a positive example for future collaborations.”
In Nigeria, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative Cristian Munduate said that waterborne diseases pose a serious and ongoing risk to the lives and well-being of children in Nigeria.
“This programme will help realise the rights of many thousands of children by improving healthcare services in the FCT.”
Together, UNICEF and China Exim are expected to mobilise financial resources to support children, provide technical expertise in programme implementation, explore innovative financing, and promote local procurement, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.
The MoU also highlights UNICEF’s role as a trusted partner for multilateral development banks and other financial institutions, supporting them in their efforts to have a more significant social impact on children.
In a startling turn of events, a video has surfaced online showing a group of armed bandits conducting Eid prayers deep within the forests of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The footage, which has sparked widespread alarm, was shared by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on his account on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
According to reports, the armed groups gathered in at least two distinct locations Maidaro, Sabon Birni, and East Kaduna, within the Dogon Dawa Forest.
The bandits armed with a variety of sophisticated weapons. In addition to carrying automatic rifles, the bandits were seen equipped with drones and mobile phones, suggesting an alarming level of coordination and access to technology.
Security analysts, including Makama, have expressed deep concern over the implications of this gathering. Tagging both the Nigerian Army and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in his post, Makama emphasised the urgent need for strategic countermeasures against these criminal elements.
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
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Two brothers Launch Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, Sponsor WAEC Registration For 50 vulnerable Students
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
In a significant effort to promote education, two brothers have launched the Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, sponsoring the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration for 50 vulnerable students in Kamaru Ikulu Ward, Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Yusuf Ismail Ashafa, popularly known as Sardaunan Ikulu, urged the beneficiaries to remain dedicated to their studies and strive for academic excellence. He assured them that the foundation would continue to support outstanding students by facilitating their admission into higher institutions.
Ashafa also called on parents to play an active role in motivating their children to focus on education, emphasizing that their success would contribute to a brighter future for the community.
Meanwhile, Ashafa, who played a crucial role in the emergence of Engr. Bege Gaiya Joseph as the Executive Chairman of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, expressed deep appreciation for Joseph and his brother, Reuben Richman Bissla, for sponsoring the students’ WAEC registration in his honor.
He pledged to build on these efforts, ensuring continued support for students’ education as a means of fostering societal development.
In his remarks, the co-sponsor, Engr. Joseph Bege Gaiya, popularly known as Lordbeckson, disclosed that the initiative was aimed at improving the education of the most vulnerable students for the betterment of society.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of the goodwill of Sardaunan Ikulu. If he had wanted to become the Council Chairman, he would have been, but he decided to push me forward, and today I am the Council Chairman through his mentorship,” he stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to consider themselves fortunate and to take full advantage of the opportunity by studying hard to achieve excellent results.
“With the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, we must ensure that our students pursue science courses. We cannot afford to have a Federal University in our region and yet have our children unable to gain admission to study science-related fields,” he added.
The initiative has been widely commended as a timely intervention, helping underprivileged students overcome financial barriers to education.