100,000 Children in The Northeast to Get UK Educational Supports

The UK is giving $16 million in education support to 100,000 children affected by the Boko Haram crisis in Northeast Nigeria.

This package is targeted at children in areas where schools have had to close due to the insurgency in the region. This was disclosed by Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, while speaking to journalists at the UN headquarters in New York.

Mr Allen said the fund was part of the package offered by Prime Minister Theresa May, who visited Nigeria last week. The UK envoy added that the security agreement signed by the prime minister during her visit included the offer of joint training with Nigeria for four army units going to the North-east.

The UK’s security and defence partnership with Nigeria, he said, will see greater equipment and training for the Nigerian military.

As part of a broader approach to building partnerships with Sahelian countries particularly those of the Lake Chad Basin, the Prime Minister also announced the opening of new embassies in Chad and Niger.

The Anglo-Nigerian security pact is aimed at helping Nigeria combat the insurgency in the North East through better military training and the adoption of anti-terrorist propaganda techniques.

The new methodology is expected to cut the flow of new recruits feeding the growth of the insurgents by working with local communities promote counter narratives to Boko Haram.

The British prime minister’s agreement with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was announced at a summit between the two leaders in Abuja.

“We are determined to work side by side with Nigeria to help them fight terrorism, reduce conflict and lay the foundations for the future stability and prosperity that will benefit us all,” she said.