UNICEF Nigeria has convened policymakers, researchers, development partners, academics and young people for a Knowledge for Use Summit focused on translating evidence into stronger policies and programmes for children.
The summit, known as K4U, was designed as an interactive platform for discussing research, innovation, lessons and practical solutions rather than a sequence of formal presentations.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative Wafaa Saeed said children and young people should remain at the centre of learning, programme delivery and measurement.
She said reliable data helped institutions move from assumptions to evidence by identifying the scale of problems, the communities most affected and the underlying causes.
According to Saeed, evidence should guide resource allocation, programme design, accountability and advocacy for greater public investment in children.
She also described universities and academic institutions as important partners in generating research and learning that could improve programme quality.
The summit is expected to allow participants to examine what works, why certain interventions succeed or fail and how effective models can be scaled.
UNICEF said the broader objective was to strengthen the use of evidence in decisions affecting child rights, education, health, protection and other areas of child wellbeing in Nigeria.
