The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to protect and empower the girl-child in Nigeria.
The Fund’s Country Representative, Ms Ulla Mueller, made the commitment at the Validation of the 9th Country Programme Document (CPD) of the Fund for Nigeria in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Fund’s 9th Country Programme (CP), spanning 2023-2027, will accelerate the country’s development aspirations.
NAN also reports that the UNFPA had been developing and implementing programmes to suit the needs, aspirations and development of countries across the globe.
The programmes are aligned to national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
(UNSDCF) 2020-2025, contributing to its five strategic areas of Economic Development, Social Development,
Strengthened Institutions; Peace, Security and Justice, and Environment.
In Nigeria, the Fund’s 8th CP which focused on tackling Gender-Based Violence
(GBV), Maternal Mortality, Family Planning, among others, will lapse on Dec. 31, 2022, hence the need for a 9th CP
so as to build on lessons learnt from the current cycle.
The CP will also enable UNFPA to work toward achieving the three transformative goals of zero unmet need for
contraception; zero preventable maternal deaths; and zero GBV and harmful practices by the year 2030.
The country representative, therefore, expressed the interest of the UN system in empowering and protecting the girl-child through continuous access to sexual and reproductive health rights.
She described girls and young people as the future of every nation, saying that protecting them is in line with UNFPA’s strategy.
According to her, the Fund will continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria through improved healthcare for women, girls, children, adolescents, men and people living with disabilities.
She added that health challenges such as Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) and Female Genital Mutilation would be addressed, while women and girls would be empowered.
She commended stakeholders in the implementation of the Fund’s activities in Nigeria for their quality contributions.(NAN)