The UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Mr. Mohammed Malick Fall, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his vision and supportive roles in the success of the organisation’s programmes in the state.
Fall also thanked the Governor for his peace initiatives and people-oriented approach to governance, which he said have made Enugu one of the most peaceful states in the country.
The UNICEF Country Representative spoke at the Government House, Enugu, when he led a delegation of the organisation to pay a courtesy call on the Governor. He equally appreciated Ugwuanyi for his administration’s efforts in protecting the rights of the children of the state to enable them actualise their full potentials as future leaders.
He said that the state has improved the quality of education and was “carrying the flag of few states that have domesticated the Child Rights Act.”
Fall added that Enugu is one of the states that are doing well in the immunisation of children, antenatal care and infant feeding, among others. “Since you became the Governor of Enugu State, the atmosphere in Enugu has been serene. I want to use this opportunity to thank you for the overall leadership you are providing to the development work, the partnership with UNICEF and for maintaining the status of Enugu as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
“From the report I receive, from the feedback that has been provided that Enugu is in God’s hands, this is really true due to the peaceful atmosphere Enugu has and the easy life people have here in the state,” Fall stated.
In his response, Ugwuanyi thanked the organisation for recognising the modest efforts of his government in impacting positively on the lives of the people of the state, pointing out that “Enugu is today, a mother and child-friendly state and has continued to earn plaudits for the Free Maternal and Child Health Care Programme which is a core component of social protection.”
The Governor expressed gratitude to UNICEF for “its wonderful support”, saying the state has over the years been a key beneficiary of the organisation’s assisted programmes, which focus mainly on women and children.