By Sani Idris Abdulrahman
In commemoration of ‘The Day of the African Child’ (DAC) 2025, the Commissioner, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Mukhtar Ahmed, has called for a child-responsive budgeting and increased focus on children’s rights.
The theme for the years’ commemoration is ‘Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010’.
Addressing a press briefing in collaboration with UNICEF on Monday in Kaduna, Ahmed emphasised the need to prioritise children’s rights, development, and dignity.
He explained that the commemoration honoured the heroic youths of Soweto who stood against injustice in the pursuit of quality education.
Ahmed said, “Today, we proudly join the global community in commemorating the day, this solemn day, established by the Organization of African Unity in 1991, compels us to reflect on the condition of African children today .
“The day also seeks to renew our collective commitment to their rights, development, and dignity.”
Ahmed lamented the significant persistence of some formidable challenges, which included high child mortality rates, malnutrition, and limited access to education.
“Africa remains home to the highest rates of child mortality, with one in 13 children dying before their fifth birthday.
“Over 40 per cent of children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from malnutrition, stunting their growth and cognitive development.
“Millions of children remain out of school or attend schools with limited infrastructure and underqualified teachers,”he further decried.
The commissioner, however, highlighted Kaduna State’s progress in aligning with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Ahmed said the state had taken notable strides in ensuring that children’s needs were central to development policies and budgetary allocations.
He said the state government had increased investments in education and health, implemented child-focused initiatives, and strengthened public financial management.
Ahmed listed some key initiatives keyed into by the state government, which included; the School Feeding Programme, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme, and Basic Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA).
According to Ahmed, over 1.8 million pupils in public primary schools are provided with daily meals, thereby enhancing enrolment, retention, and nutrition.
He explained that the AGILE programme aimed to improve secondary education access for adolescent girls, reduce dropout rates, and eliminate socio-cultural barriers.
Ahmed also explained that BESDA targeted out-of-school children by offering flexible, inclusive, and community-based learning pathways.
Speaking further, the commissioner said the state had also implemented conditional cash transfers for vulnerable households to ensure children remain in school and access health services.
“We have adopted programme-based budgeting with child-focused indicators and improved revenue mobilisation to reduce dependence on federal allocations,”he said.
In spite the efforts, the commissioner acknowledged resource gaps, equity issues, and data limitations.
“In spite meaningful gains, we recognise key challenges of resource gaps, equity issues, and limited child participation.
“Budget allocations, while increasing, are still not commensurate with population growth and the scale of children’s needs.
“Maginalised groups especially children with disabilities, those in rural or conflict-affected areas, and orphans remain underserved.
“Lack of robust, disaggregated data hampers evidence-based planning and resource allocation,”he further lamented.
Ahmed stated the state government was committed to expanding budget allocations in education, health, and social protection, especially in underserved LGAs.
He added that the government would establish child participation platforms in decision-making such as youths parliaments, school-based governance clubs, and consultative town halls.
He equally said they would enhance real-time data systems for tracking outcomes in child well-being and enabling evidence-based planning.
The commissioner, therefore, called on all the stakeholders to strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration, stressing, “budget line for a child today is a strategic investment in peace, productivity, and prosperous tomorrow.
“Let us rise from this commemoration with renewed dedication.
“Let the memory of Soweto inspire our actions, and let the promise of Kaduna’s children guide our policies,” he appealed.
The PBC, with support from UNICEF, would this Tuesday hold a one-day high level stakeholder engagement to commemorate the DAC.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
