Gombe has lowest poverty rate in North East- Report
The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF says Gombe State has the lowest statistics when compared to poverty ratio in the North East.
According to UNICEF, this is based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.
Speaking on Monday, during Gombe State Social Protection Policy Implementation Plan and Budget Development workshop, Mr Yusuf Auta, the Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, made the revelation.
He lauded the state government for the various interventions geared towards uplifting her citizens.
Auta said, “Gombe State is one of the states with the lowest poverty rate in the North-East according to the 2019 Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria by the National Bureau of Statistics, 2020.”
He explained that the figures were also captured in the state’s social protection policy document recently developed.
Auta also stated that there is multi-dimensional poverty among children in Gombe state like all states in Nigeria. He explained that a child is multi-dimensionally poor if deprived in any three of the following: nutrition, health, water, sanitation, education, housing and information.
He said, “With the effort of the State Government as clearly expressed and visioned in its social protection policy document of providing “Better life for all”, the children of the state will grow in an environment that will enable them to compete favourably with children all over the world.”
Auta commended the state government for developing the policy document, adding that it would place the state on the path of growth and development. He said that the policy would promote the well-being of children and women in the state if implemented.
“UNICEF is happy to be part of this process because it affects the lives of women and children. UNICEF pays attention to women and children because it is the credo of development.
Social protection policy provides the platform for UNICEF to support women and children to have a better life.
“So, we are here to come up with an implementation plan which will be in accordance with the budget provision of the state,” he said.
