By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has hailed the governments of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states for ensuring adequate collaboration towards the enhancement of children’s welfare across the three northwestern states of Nigeria, even though there are still challenges to surmount.
The UNICEF Chief of Kano Field Office, Rahama Rihood Mohammed, stated this during the 2025 World Children’s Day, a global day in which the United Nations and the world celebrate children.
Rahama, who briefed journalists during the event, held at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, brought to view the actions UNICEF is also taking to support the governments of the three states towards changing the situation of children.
According to him, UNICEF, Kano Field Office, has been working with the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states to address the development challenges affecting children as highlighted in The Nigerian Child 2025 report, and I am proud to announce that progress is being recorded.
“Let me share with you some of the progress made: In Jigawa state, the collaboration between UNICEF and the Jigawa state Government has resulted in the Masaki Initiative, a community-driven initiative to address child malnutrition in children under five. This has become a model other states are learning from.
“This strategic intervention has been very effective and is being adopted by other states in Nigeria as a model to tackle malnutrition in children under five. Jigawa state has also recorded improved immunization outcomes in the last ten years, thanks to the partnership with UNICEF.”
He further stated that: “In Katsina State, UNICEF’s collaboration with the Katsina State Government has resulted in increased investment by the Government in addressing severe acute malnutrition, with the Government contributing over one billion Naira for the procurement of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) under the Child Nutrition Match Fund (CNF).
Similarly, Jigawa and Kano have made one billion Naira each for RUTF procurement. Local Government Chairmen in Katsina State are also investing one per cent of their total budget to nutrition in all the 34 LGAs of the state.
“With UNICEF’s support, Katsina state has recently attained the status of ODF state and become the 2nd state in Nigeria after Jigawa to achieve this result. Under Child Protection, the Katsina State Government and UNICEF are implementing a massive birth registration Programme to ensure that every child in Katsina state has a birth certificate, which confers them a legal identity as prescribed by Article 7 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
According to him, UNICEF and the Katsina State government collaboration is also addressing Sexual and Gender based Violence against children, including child marriage, through community-driven interventions.
He added that: “In Kano State, UNICEF collaboration with the state Government is addressing Immunization coverage gaps through solarization of PHC facilities, thanks to funding support of Gavi and partners. With the generous support of the FCDO, UNICEF facilitated the renovation and upgrading of 27 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Kano State and 12 PHCs in Jigawa State through the CRIBS project, significantly strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health services in the two states.
“We have also inaugurated medical Oxygen facilities, which are functional and contributing to child survival in Kano state. In the Education sector, our collaboration has resulted in the integration of Qurainc schools into formal education, thus expanding access to education.
“The Nigeria Learning Passport is also an important initiative providing increased access to education in Kano state, including Jigawa and Katsina. In the WASH sector, our partnership has resulted in Jigawa and Katsina States attaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
“Also, through the CRIBS project in Jigawa and Kano, water and sanitation facilities have been rehabilitated and improved in schools and health facilities. So, with the support of our donors, for which UNICEF is immensely grateful, UNICEF is supporting governments to address child well-being, and progress is being recorded, but the job is not done yet – more needs to be done. What every Child needs in Nigeria. To truly transform the lives of children in Kano and across Nigeria, we must: Deliver vaccines and nutrition to every child, especially in hard-to-reach communities.”
Rahama noted that: “To ensure every child in Nigeria can live, learn and grow with dignity and safety, UNICEF calls for collaborative action by Government, stakeholders, development partners, communities and CSOs to change the situation. As I present this report, I reaffirm UNICEF’s commitment to working hand in hand with government, development partners, communities, and civil society to ensure that every Nigerian child can survive, learn, and thrive.
“The evidence is clear, Nigeria has made progress, but urgent, sustained, and united action is required. Children in Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, and across the nation deserve nothing less than our full commitment to safeguarding their future.”
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