Iruoma Okpalaebubu
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Anambra State, has announced the official launch of the Institute of Social Policy.
This innovative initiative seeks to enhance research, generate evidence, formulate policies, and develop human capacity among individuals and government institutions across federal, state, and local levels in Nigeria.
With technical and financial support from UNICEF, the Social Policy Programme has been collaboratively developed to address significant knowledge and capacity gaps that were identified through a strategic partnership established in 2018.
The initiative aligns with UNICEF’s commitment to strengthening the government frameworks and empowering stakeholders to promote child rights and sustainable development.
The Institute of Social Policy announced the availability of postgraduate degrees, including a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s in Social Policy (MSP), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Policy.
Also, it will offer short courses tailored to meet the specific needs of organisations, focusing on essentials such as poverty measurement and analysis, public financial management, social protection and investment, and social policy design, analysis and evaluation.
At the launch event, Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, stated, “This initiative marks a critical step towards building a robust group of professionals who will drive evidence-based policy planning and implementation in Nigeria.”
Through our partnership with academic institutions, we are establishing a foundation for sustainable social development that emphasises the rights of children and women.
Prof Joseph Ikechebelu, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “The establishment of the Institute of Social Policy signifies a new chapter in our commitment to research and capacity building in social policy.”
He added that “This partnership with UNICEF will enable us to equip and empower future leaders by providing them with essential skills and knowledge to address intricate social issues, thereby contributing to sustainable development in Nigeria”.
The establishment of the Institute on May 8, 2024 highlights UNICEF’s commitment to building local capacity and fostering academic collaborations to advance child-sensitive, sustainable initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).