UNICEF

By Oladoja M.O

Across all health-related policies, discussions, and publications, maternal and child care undoubtedly ranks among the top three priorities of our national healthcare system. Without mincing words, it constitutes a core aspect of public health that rightly deserves every ounce of attention it receives. One might ask, why is this so? 

A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) underscores the alarming statistics, revealing that, in 2020, a maternity-related death occurred nearly every two minutes. This equates to approximately 800 daily maternal deaths from preventable causes across various regions of the world. 

Similarly, UNICEF, in one of its latest reports, noted that while Nigeria constitutes only 2.4% of the world’s population, it accounts for a staggering 10% of global maternal deaths. Recent figures indicate a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, ranking as the fourth highest globally. Furthermore, an estimated 262,000 neonatal deaths occur annually at birth, the second-highest national total in the world.

Beyond these mortality figures, numerous other health complications afflict this demographic, often with far-reaching, detrimental consequences. Some of these complications include hypertension, gestational diabetes, infections, preeclampsia, preterm labour, depression and anxiety, pregnancy loss or miscarriage, and stillbirth. These conditions may jeopardise the health of the mother, fetus, or both, and can be life-threatening if not properly managed. With such distressing statistics, it is impossible not to prioritise this critical issue.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the government has implemented several initiatives to address maternal and child health concerns. Notable programs include the Midwife Service Scheme, which aimed to enhance the healthcare workforce by deploying midwives to provide maternal health services in rural areas, and the Saving One Million Lives Program for Results, a performance-based funding initiative aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes at the state level.

Additionally, the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) prioritises life-saving interventions for women and newborns, strengthening healthcare services in the 172 most affected local government areas through supply- and demand-side strategies.

However, despite these concerted efforts and the significant attention accorded to maternal and child healthcare, a critical yet insidious aspect of this discourse remains grossly overlooked—oral health. Among the myriad etiological factors contributing to maternal and child health complications, the intersection of oral health and overall maternal well-being is frequently ignored. 

A 2024 study highlighted that a mother’s oral health status, knowledge, literacy, attitudes, behaviours, and socioeconomic status are pivotal determinants of childhood caries. Another recent study underscored the detrimental impact of poor oral health during pregnancy, linking it to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, gingival ulcerations, pregnancy granulomas, gingivitis, and pregnancy tumours (epulis gravidarum). 

According to a CDC physician, improving pregnant women’s oral health is one of the most effective strategies for preventing early childhood caries. She further emphasised that oral health is an essential component of prenatal care, as poor maternal oral health can significantly compromise both maternal and neonatal health, setting the foundation for lifelong health challenges. Additionally, periodontitis has been strongly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight.

Given these profound implications, one would expect a holistic approach to maternal healthcare—one that integrates oral health awareness and services into prenatal care. Unfortunately, this is far from reality. A 2024 scoping review revealed that dental service utilisation among pregnant women in Nigeria is alarmingly low, with visits largely driven by curative rather than preventive needs.

Despite the serious risks associated with poor oral health during pregnancy, oral health education remains conspicuously absent from antenatal awareness curricula, and primary healthcare centres lack dedicated oral health officers.

Thus, this serves as a call for urgent action and heightened awareness. The advocacy for integrating oral health education into antenatal classes must persist, as maternal knowledge of oral healthcare is often inadequate. 

Pregnancy is a critical period that necessitates heightened attention to oral health, and dental clinic visits should be regarded as an indispensable component of prenatal care. Most importantly, the government must prioritise the strategic deployment of public oral health officers to ensure that this vulnerable demographic’s unique oral healthcare needs are adequately addressed.

Oladoja M.O writes from Abuja and can be reached at: mayokunmark@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam 

A nurse abducted by ISWAP terrorists in 2018 has regained her freedom after enduring six years in captivity.  

The nurse, Alice Loksha, was taken alongside two other female health workers on March 1, 2018, while working at a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) facility in Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.  

Speaking to journalists at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Friday, Kenneth Chigbu, Deputy Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed that Loksha escaped from captivity and was found in Geidam, Yobe State, on October 24, 2024.  

Chigbu revealed that the 42-year-old endured forced marriages with two ISWAP commanders and faced severe conditions during her captivity.  

“She was initially held in Tumbuma for two days before being relocated to Kwalleram, where she spent seven months and was forced into marriage with a terrorist leader named Abu Umar. 

“This marriage resulted in the birth of her son, Muhammad. Abu Umar was later killed during a gunfight with troops in 2022,” Chigbu said.  

After Abu Umar’s death, Loksha was forced into another marriage with an ISWAP commander named Abu Simak in 2022. However, he was later banished by his fellow terrorists to the Dogon Chukwu camp. 

Loksha managed to escape from this camp through the Diffa axis and reach Geidam, where she reported to JTF troops on October 29.  

“She has since undergone medical evaluation and received humanitarian support,” Chigbu added. 

Chigbu also confirmed the escape of Fayina Ali, the younger sister of the late Samuel Andrew, a soldier who served under the 212 Battalion. 

Fayina was abducted by ISWAP on October 19, 2022, while travelling to Maiduguri to process her late brother’s death benefits.  

“Fayina was held captive in Kangarwa for nine months before being transferred to Tumbuma for four years. She was later returned to Kangarwa, where she remained for another year before escaping,” he said.  

Both women were received by Zuwaira Gambo, Borno State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development. 

Gambo assured that they would undergo psychosocial support and rehabilitation before being reintegrated with their families.  

“This marks a significant step in their recovery and reintegration process,” Gambo said.

By Ofemile Blessing Afeghese

Infantile immunisation is the process of making babies or toddlers resistant or immune to certain infections or diseases. It is vaccinating babies and young children to protect their health from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Immunisation gives infants the immunity to fight diseases that can cause long-term health issues or even death.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2019, Vaccines are products usually given in childhood to protect against serious, often deadly diseases. By stimulating the body’s natural defences, they prepare the body to fight the disease faster and more effectively.

Infantile immunisation is important because infants are vulnerable to infections, and their immune systems are not fully developed. Immunisation provides them with protection during this critical period of their lives. Vaccines are given to babies to protect them against serious illnesses like polio, which can cause paralysis; measles, which can cause brain swelling and blindness; whooping cough (pertussis); and tetanus, which can cause painful muscle contractions and difficulty eating and breathing, especially in newborns.

Abdullah Sani, a 39-year-old survivor of polio, said, “Growing up, I realised I couldn’t do what children my age could do with their legs. I wanted to run, jump, play with my friends and do everything my peers were doing, but I couldn’t. I felt terrible.

At the age of three, doctors told my parents that I would never walk again. My mum cried profusely as she resolved with my dad to fight the disease that had disabled me. I was taken to many hospitals and traditional healers in search of a cure, but the search was fruitless as there was no cure for polio. The disease took my ability to walk.”

World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2024 that vaccines and immunisation currently prevent 3.5 million to 5 million deaths yearly from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, and measles globally.

In Nigeria, the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in the year 2014 stated that routine immunisation of children in Nigeria is carried out using the following vaccines: BCG ( Bacilli Calmette Guerin) at birth or as soon as possible after birth; OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) at birth and 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age; DPT (Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age; Hepatitis B at birth, 6 and 14 weeks; Measles at 9 months of age; Yellow Fever at 9 months of age and Vitamin A at 9 months and 15 months of age.

Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health states that a child is considered fully vaccinated if they have received a BCG vaccination against tuberculosis; three doses of DPT to prevent diphtheria; pertussis (whooping cough); tetanus and at least three doses of polio vaccine; and one dose of measles vaccine. All these vaccinations should be received for five visits during the first year of life, including the doses delivered at birth. According to this schedule, children between 12–23 months would have completed their immunisations and be fully immunised.

According to UNICEF, in 2019, infantile immunisation was one of the most effective ways to protect babies from preventable diseases. Health experts say that vaccinating your child not only safeguards their health but also contributes to the overall well-being of the community.

 Vaccines are safe and effective and have played a crucial role in reducing and eradicating dangerous diseases. By following the recommended immunisation schedule, parents can protect their babies from the serious risks of infectious diseases, giving them the best possible start in life.

Ofemile Blessing Afeghese wrote from Bayero University, Kano.

By Onumoh Abdulwaheed 

Northern Nigeria is facing an increasingly severe malnutrition crisis, with recent data revealing a stark escalation in cases. UNICEF reports that Nigeria has the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with a 32% prevalence rate among children under five. An estimated 2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), yet only 20% receive treatment.

According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the situation has worsened dramatically in 2024. Dr. Sanjana Tirima reports alarming increases across northern Nigeria. In Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, MSF’s inpatient therapeutic feeding centre admitted 1,250 severely malnourished children with complications in April 2024, double the figure from April 2023. The centre has had to expand to 350 beds, far exceeding its initial 200-bed capacity.

Similar trends are seen elsewhere. In Bauchi state, MSF’s facility at Kafin Madaki Hospital saw a 188% increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023 in the admissions of severely malnourished children. Northwestern states like Zamfara, Kano, and Sokoto have reported increases in admissions to inpatient centres ranging from 20% to 100%.

Dr Christos Christou, MSF’s International President, previously highlighted the multiple challenges facing northern Nigeria, including “overwhelming levels of malnutrition, frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, lack of medical facilities and personnel, and continuous insecurity.” The crisis is further exacerbated by widespread flooding, which has devastated farmlands and displaced millions.

Despite the escalating crisis, the humanitarian response remains inadequate. In May, the United Nations and Nigerian authorities issued an urgent appeal for US$306.4 million to address nutrition needs in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. However, MSF notes this is insufficient as it doesn’t cover other affected parts of northern Nigeria.

Dr Tirima emphasises the situation’s urgency: “Everyone needs to step in to save lives and allow the children of northern Nigeria to grow free from malnutrition and its disastrous long-term, if not fatal, consequences.” She calls for immediate action to diagnose and treat malnourished children and engage in sustained, long-term initiatives to address the root causes of the crisis.

MSF and other organisations stress the need for a comprehensive and urgent response as the situation worsens. “We can’t keep repeating these catastrophic scenarios year after year,” Dr. Tirima warns. “What will it take to make everyone take notice and act?” The crisis in northern Nigeria remains a critical humanitarian concern requiring immediate and sustained attention from national and international stakeholders.

Onumoh Abdulwaheed wrote via onumohabdulwaheed@gmail.com.

By: Habibu Maaruf Abdu 

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, coinciding with World Polio Day, UNICEF launched the ‘No More Zero Dose’ immunisation song across Nigeria and other West and Central African countries. 

The Kano state launch took place at Tahir Guest Palace, attended by government officials, Kannywood members, social media influencers, and journalists from Jigawa and Katsina states.

According to Mr. Rahama R.M. Farah, chief of UNICEF’s Kano field office, the event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation, especially for children under five. 

“We have gathered this morning to raise awareness on the importance of Immunization, which remains the most cost-effective intervention to confront vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in children under 5 years of age…”

“Thank you for joining us this morning to launch the Immunization Song aptly entitled, No More Zero Dose!” He added 

The No More Zero Dose song highlights the urgent need to boost immunisation coverage in West and Central Africa, a region with the lowest vaccination rates in the world. This reality has led to multiple outbreaks of preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, polio, yellow fever, and cerebrospinal meningitis in the region.

The song features Spyro, Ali Nuhu, other top music stars, and UNICEF Champions from Mali, Chad, Cameroon, and Guinea. 

A media dialogue on immunisation followed the song’s launch. UNICEF Communication specialist Samuel Kaalu then mobilised caregivers for the upcoming immunisation campaign in November, encouraging them to amplify the message.

By Zainab Haruna Shittu

The economic downturn in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions, leaving no one unscathed. The youth, particularly university students, face unprecedented hardships. Financial constraints, food insecurity, and limited access to resources have become the norm for many Nigerian university students.

Research has shown that economic hardship profoundly impacts students’ academic performance and mental health. A National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) study reveals that poverty and hunger are major factors contributing to students’ poor academic performance. Similarly, a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlights the devastating effects of food insecurity on students’ mental health.

For many students, the struggle is personal. “Academic pressure mounts, but hunger weighs heavier. I’m constantly worried about where my next meal will come from,” confesses a 21-year-old student who wished to remain anonymous.

Another student echoes this sentiment. “I struggle to focus in class because I’m constantly worried about where my next meal will come from. My parents’ hard work doesn’t pay enough to sustain us, leaving me hungry and stressed. The toll on my mental health is overwhelming,” shares a 20-year-old university student.

To mitigate the effects of economic hardship on university students, policymakers and stakeholders must prioritise education and food security. This requires collaborative efforts, including government support for education and food programs, increased scholarships and financial aid, improved access to mental health resources, and community-based initiatives for food security.

Nigeria’s economic woes have far-reaching consequences, affecting various sectors, including education. University students deserve support and resources to thrive. It is imperative that we prioritise their well-being and future.

Zainab Haruna Shittu wrote from Bayero University, Kano, via harunazainabshittu7567@gmail.com. 

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

I commend the Yobe State Universal Basic Education Board (YSUBEB), led by Acting Chairman Mallam Isa Shettima, for organizing a comprehensive training program for public school teachers across the state.

This commendable initiative, in collaboration with UNICEF, has equipped educators with essential skills to teach at the appropriate levels, thereby enhancing the quality of education in Yobe State.

The training program covers all geopolitical zones, including Damaturu, Potiskum, and Nguru, showcasing YSUBEB’s commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind.

By investing in teacher development, the board is addressing important aspect of education, acknowledging that educators play a vital role in shaping young minds.

UNICEF’s contributions to Yobe State’s educational system, especially during the Boko Haram insurgency, have been invaluable. The organization’s dedication to promoting access to quality education, even in challenging circumstances, is truly commendable.

The partnership between YSUBEB and UNICEF serves as a model for effective collaboration, demonstrating the potential for meaningful change when stakeholders unite toward a common goal.

By pooling resources and expertise, they have created a comprehensive training program tailored to the specific needs of Yobe State’s educators. A significant benefit of this training program is its focus on teaching at the right level.

By imparting knowledge at an appropriate pace, educators enable students to grasp complex concepts, build solid foundations, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

Moreover, the program’s emphasis on engaging young pupils reflects YSUBEB and UNICEF’s recognition of the importance of early childhood education.

Research consistently shows that investments in early learning yield substantial returns, shaping future academic success and overall life outcomes.

As trained teachers return to their classrooms, it is crucial for them to implement their newfound knowledge. I encourage educators to seize this opportunity and integrate innovative teaching methods and strategies into their practice.

YSUBEB and UNICEF’s commitment to education extends beyond the training program; they work tirelessly to tackle systemic challenges, improve infrastructure, and foster inclusive learning environments.

The success of this initiative relies on sustained support and collaboration. I urge stakeholders—including policymakers, community leaders, and civil society organizations—to rally behind YSUBEB and UNICEF.

In conclusion, the YSUBEB-UNICEF teacher training program is a groundbreaking initiative poised to create a lasting impact on Yobe State’s education landscape.

Kasim Isa Muhammad wrote from Damaturu, Yobe State.

By Zayyad I. Muhammad 

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has commenced the implementation of his ambitious Mega and Model Schools projects. 

On January 25th, 2024, the Governor officially launched the construction of the model nursery, primary, and junior secondary schools across all 21 local government areas in the Girei local government area. Additionally, the governor plans to build comprehensive one-in-all mega secondary schools, two in each of the state’s three senatorial districts.

The big question is: Why is the Adamawa State Governor engaging in these enormously ambitious projects? There are three answers. First, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in three children in Nigeria is out of school, totalling 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school (JSS) level. Adamawa State, positioned as a frontrunner in the north for reducing the number of out-of-school children, aims to sustain and enhance its progress. 

Additionally, the state has achieved remarkable milestones in maintaining existing schools and securing impressive student performance in WAEC and NECO. Notably, in the 2023 NECO examination, Adamawa came first in the North and ranked second nationally for students with more than five credits in all subjects, including mathematics and English. 

Furthermore, as part of Governor Fintiri’s 2024 budget commitment, promises include allocating projects exceeding one billion Naira to each of the 21 local government areas in Adamawa State. The construction of model and mega schools reflects a dedication to fulfilling these promises and spreading development and resources beyond the state capital, fostering a sense of inclusivity among the people.

While some dissenting voices suggest that the government should focus on rehabilitating and maintaining existing schools and skills vocational centres, the governor has already taken care of that through well-designed approaches. According to experts, Adamawa State, known for its exemplary education sector management, employs a highly regarded systematic and systemic approach. 

Adamawa has implemented a system that consistently maintains school infrastructure while concurrently constructing new ones based on needs and distribution. The state actively recruits new teachers and provides ongoing training for existing ones, aiming to enhance teacher quality, welfare, and pupil enrollment to address the challenges of out-of-school children. 

According to the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, there are essentially two types of schools in the world: those with classrooms and street schools. Failing to enrol children in schools with classrooms may result in them attending street schools, where one child in such a setting can negatively impact the education of 10 children in a conventional classroom.

There are three takeaways from Gov. Fintiri’s launch of the construction of the 21-model nusery, primary and junior secondary schools, and the six mega schools. Firstly, there is public excitement; the majority of Adamawa residents are enthusiastic, recognising the government’s effectiveness and the inclusive nature of infrastructure development. Secondly, the projects will have a regional impact: the Model and Mega schools in Adamawa are expected to significantly influence the state’s education sector and contribute to the broader educational landscape of the northeast subregion. These schools are designed to provide advanced facilities, technology, and specialised programs, accommodating many students and fostering diversity. 

Thirdly, the schools will have a multipurpose and economic impact. Governor Fintiri’s mega and model school projects aim to address the challenges highlighted by UNICEF. The UN said that 12.4 million children in Nigeria have never attended school, and 5.9 million left school prematurely. Thus, the project will tackle the high number of out-of-school children in the northeast and provide students with modern skills aligned with globalisation. Furthermore, the economic impact is evident, with the substantial investment of 16 billion naira in the model school project, which is expected to affect the lives of residents in various ways positively.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Usman Ibrahim Na’abba

Ahmad Sulaiman’s face is cheerless as he continues to grapple with thoughts of how poor sanitation and adequate hygiene bother his community. Ahmad lives in one of the densely populated communities in Nassarawa LGA, Unguwar Gaya, in Kano State. Not only does he lament that their community efforts are all in vain, but he is not hopeful about the well-being of his community in the coming years.

Sanitation and proper hygiene have been among the critical focus areas for governments at all levels in Nigeria. Hence, prominent international organizations carrying out activities across developing countries have factored these challenges into their projects and programs.

Organizations like United Nations Children Emergency and Fund (UNICEF) have been present in Nigeria for decades delivering projects in child health and WASH. The priority given to Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is so because poor hygiene and sanitation advance the spread of child killer diseases like communicable diseases such as Cholera, Diarrhea, Typhoid, etc. Moreover, it allows for the continuity of Malaria, a disease Nigeria has grappled with for a long time.

For Ahmad, the dream of having a disease-free community continues to run farther as they continue to chase after it. For over a year, his neighbour’s soak-away pit has filled up to its brink, releasing some of its contents to an open culvert close to it in his community.

Sanitation has deteriorated over the years due to negligence. It is the responsibility of both citizens and the government to have a clean environment. He admits that “passing by the open is extremely excruciatingly nauseating and terrifying, not to talk of neighbouring the area”.

In the past administrations, Kano State has formally declared every last Saturday of the month for general cleaning of markets, motor parks, culverts, hospitals and surroundings around communities with strict restrictions on movement. The session ends by 10:00 am, and it’s almost always expected that proper sanitation of surroundings is effectively discharged – dumping of refuse is executed correctly, and drainages are cleared, among others.

People like Ahmad have now become more aware of the utmost importance of hygiene and are more responsible in ensuring they keep tidy surroundings to combat diseases. However, the current overflow of a soak-away neighbouring dramatically contributes to environmental and health menaces that his community battles.

“Every member of this neighbourhood is at risk of contracting a health problem. Even passers-by aren’t spared of the stinking smell coming out of the unkempt soak-away”, he said. The pit also leads to an open culvert linked to many houses around his community. Hence, the danger of the odd combination is incomprehensible.

“I have tendered complaints to the mayor of the community countless times. It has been over one year, and nothing has been done. Tenants occupy the house, and I’ve observed that they don’t really care about the impact of what their negligence would cause,” he admitted. Upon understanding the dangers associated with improper sanitation by the tenants, he also proceeded to meet them one-on-one, but that hasn’t been helpful either.

Tenants occupy a significant number of houses around the area, which is why there are numerous hygiene and sanitation problems. However, he explains that “only a few people are concerned about the health impacts of overflowing soak-away and refuge problems. This is because tenants often feel it is the responsibility of house owners to take care of such things rather than themselves”.

Towards the end of July, Ahmad’s concern rose due to the anticipated heavy rainfall and possible flooding by the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), which he believed could deteriorate their health plight because of the unkempt soak-away pit. He then, together with a friend, who is also his neighbour, collaborated and submitted a written complaint to the Kano State Ministry of Health through the office of its secretary.

Only after their report did the ministry of health send officials to their neighbourhood to check the extent of the problem. Because the property belongs to tenants, the officials from the hospital that visited said that “if they didn’t repair it, they would sell some part of the house that will be equivalent to the money to repair the hazardous soak-away for them since they are not ready to take any action”. As I speak, the soak-away pit is as it is now. Ahmad tried to call the officials again, but they couldn’t respond to him or come back to the community and take the action they intended.

Usman Ibrahim is a 200-level student of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University Kano.

By Nasiru Tijjani

The role of guidance, counselling, and mentoring in our interaction remains strategic and fundamental for achieving one’s goals and objectives. Doubtless, none of us is perfect enough not to be mentored, guided, counselled or nurtured at one point or another. Therefore, mentors, parents, counsellors, teachers and the likes are vested with the power of educating the teeming youth on the implication of age in one’s life.

Honestly, age is one of the problematic issues that need to be treated with extreme caution. But unfortunately, the problem appears to be common even among the students of tertiary institutions, civil servants, corp members and business people. Initially, the issue cannot be divorced entirely from ignorance, carelessness, poor mentorship, parental attitude toward learning, policy review and implementation, selfishness and what have you. Therefore, age is needed in every situation to meet a particular requirement for admission, job or anything.

In Nigeria, as we grow older, our services are no longer needed in some institutions. Accordingly, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has classified ‘date of birth’ as one of the fields in the data of a person to be non-updatable and non-modified unless an approved fee of ₦15,000 is paid. Meanwhile, the country’s birth certificate is issued to the citizens by the Nigeria National Population Commission. However, until recently, ‘date of birth’ has not received proper attention from the youth, parents, teachers, mentors, etc. UNICEF (2016) has reported that only 30 per cent of  Nigerian children under the age of five (5) have their births registered. Meanwhile, the country had one of the highest average birth rates in the world between 2010 and 2015.

In the academic arena, date of birth has denied many people access to secure admission into higher learning institutions at national and international levels. For instance, a friend of mine was recently denied admission to an undergraduate programme in Sudan. The university management told him that was due to his age.

In addition, the National Examination Council (NECO) has reviewed its policy in 2020 and mandated that ‘date of birth’ be written on the candidates’ results. Furthermore, the National Youth Service Corps has introduced a new policy in the year 2020, which states that the date of birth must be written on the national certificate to guard against age falsification. Before this, the NYSC  policy had mandated that graduates should not be or exceed 30 years of age to be enrolled on the scheme. Therefore, with this mandate, many graduates end up collecting exemption letters.

Returning to civil service, ‘date of birth’ has sent many civil servants to early retirement. I discussed with someone who lamented that he had unceremoniously and unduly retired from service due to the age written on his documents. In contrast, his colleagues are still in the system, for they have no problem with age. I trust you have a lot to say on this case. In Nigeria, for example, the retirement age of civil servants is 60 years by birth and 35 years in service. However, on January 20, 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a bill to increase teachers’ retirement age and service years. With the bill in effect, teachers are now to retire at 65 years by birth and 40 by service.

Furthermore, no one can deny that banks attach value to the topic of discussion, and due to this, many people, including the writer of this piece, have suffered the pain of having dual dates of birth. Without hesitation, I can attest that many accounts have been restricted and closed due to irregularities in age. Equally, many transactions have been denied, cancelled or withheld by the banks’ managements. I trust you can give an example of the victim of the problem.

In sum, the issue of ‘date of birth’ should not be treated slightly…Therefore, one will be at an advantage if one pays attention to the date of birth. Because of this, the following recommendations will be helpful:

• One should ensure they have a unique and standard date of birth.

• Parents should be cautious by avoiding anything that will jeopardise their children’s future, such as negligence to NIN enrollment.

• Parents should endeavour to register the birth certificates of their children in time or right at a tender age.

• Birth certificates or date of birth should be committed to memory so that forgetfulness and what have you will not strike between what is and what ought to be.

• No reason, or whatsoever, will warrant you to allow your friends to use your dates of birth.

Nasiru Tijjani writes from Gwaram Tsohuwa, Jigawa State. He can be contacted through tijjaninasiru@gmail.com.