The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Kano State Government and other north-western states to increase investments in child survival, education and protection, with special emphasis on vaccination, nutrition and climate-resilient learning environments.
The call was made by the Head of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Rahma Rihood Mohammad Farah, during a media dialogue held to mark this year’s World Children’s Day.
Farah emphasized the need for government at all levels to ensure that every child receives life-saving vaccines and adequate nutrition while expanding mental health and child protection services in all communities.
He urged states to invest in inclusive, safe and climate-resilient schools and to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in all schools and health centres.
According to him, expanding social protection to reach vulnerable families in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa will significantly reduce child poverty and improve overall well-being.
He noted that with the support of UNICEF, Katsina recently achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, becoming the second state in Nigeria after Jigawa to achieve this milestone.
“Katsina is also implementing a large-scale birth registration program to ensure that every child has a legal identity, in accordance with Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,” he added.
Farah explained that UNICEF and the Katsina State Government are currently addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including child marriage, through community-led interventions.
On Kano, he noted that UNICEF is working to close immunization gaps through solarization of primary health care centers, with the support of Gavi and its partners.
He added that support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) enabled UNICEF to renovate and upgrade 27 primary care centers in Kano and 12 in Jigawa under the CRIBS project, improving maternal, newborn and child health services.
UNICEF also commissioned operational medicinal oxygen plants and supported the integration of Quranic schools into formal education, as well as implementing the Nigerian Learning Passport to expand digital learning opportunities.
Meanwhile, children in Kano used the occasion to call on the government to prioritize inclusive education, access to quality healthcare for persons with disabilities, safe learning environments and adequate WASH facilities. The recommendations were made during a roundtable discussion organized by Kano Radio Corporation in collaboration with UNICEF.
They also advocated for gender equality, an end to trafficking and cyber violence, and greater community awareness about protecting dignity on social media. The children praised the Kano State Government for its efforts in removing barriers to education, recruiting teachers, improving school security and providing learning materials.
During another panel discussion on the government’s role in ensuring the well-being of children, Farah highlighted UNICEF’s continued support to protect children’s rights, including technical and financial assistance and partnerships with civil society organizations.
The Director of Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Women, Children and Disability Affairs, Alhaji Zubair Abdulmumin Zubair, revealed that the State has empowered 400 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, provided psychological support and trained community structures in child protection.
A media representative, Mr. Kola Oyelere of the Nigerian Tribune, also described the contributions of the media in promoting child welfare across the state.
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