Abuja:The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized the importance of utilizing research and evidence to enhance decision-making and outcomes for children in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the call was made by UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, during the UNICEF Knowledge for Use (K4U) Summit on Child Rights in Abuja. The summit, titled ‘From Knowledge to Action: Advancing Child Rights Through Evidence, Innovation and Learning,’ gathered policymakers, development partners, academia, young people, media professionals, and civil society organizations.
Saeed highlighted the challenge of collecting data and evidence without applying the findings to change practices. She urged stakeholders to reflect on lessons learned, including failures, and use them to adapt their approaches in a rapidly changing world. Saeed emphasized the need for honesty, courage, integrity, and openness in learning from what has not worked, rather than blaming others or making excuses.
The summit underscored the importance of involving young people in knowledge management, learning, and decision-making. Saeed noted that young people should be central to these processes, as they are ‘experts in their own issues,’ and their perspectives should guide decisions affecting them. She added that co-creation of learning, rather than simply providing feedback, was a key message from young participants at the summit.
Suzanne Suh, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, described knowledge as a tool for guiding decisions and connecting generations. She stressed that research, evaluations, and assessments provide evidence for developing policies to protect and empower children, while promoting accountability, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders.
UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Planning and Monitoring for Results, Wayne Bacale, stated that the summit aimed to ensure research findings were translated into actions that improve the lives of children and mothers. He emphasized the need for sustained dialogue and action beyond the summit to translate research findings into policy.
Prof. Alphonsus Issara of the Behavioural Insight Research Design Laboratory highlighted the importance of widely disseminating research findings to facilitate learning and application of knowledge by others. Participants were expected to make commitments and enhance their actions based on insights gained from the summit.