The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kano State Government have intensified preparations for the November 2025 polio vaccination campaign, with a renewed call for greater media involvement to raise public awareness and ensure broad community participation.
Scheduled from November 29 to December 2, 2025, the campaign aims to vaccinate 3.1 million children aged 0 to 59 months in all 484 districts of the 44 local government areas of the state.
During a media engagement session in Kano, UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief Rahama Farah commended the state government and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners for what he described as “remarkable progress” in interrupting the spread of circulating variants of poliovirus (cVPV2).
Farah noted that Kano had achieved a more than 80 percent reduction in poliovirus cases compared to 2024, going from 17 affected LGAs last year to only three confirmed cases and two pending cases in 2025.
“We are here to engage the media about the upcoming polio vaccination campaign that will begin on Saturday, November 29, the last of the year,” he said.
“Kano has made substantial progress. With sustained effort by the government and collaboration of partners, the state has achieved more than 80% reduction in cases. This is remarkable.”
Farah emphasized the crucial role of the media, particularly radio stations, in raising awareness in remote communities with limited access to electricity and television.
“We need these messages to reach communities far from services. In Nigeria, 42 million children in 21 priority states will be reached during this round,” he added.
Speaking at a sensitization session, the Zonal Director of the National Primary Development Agency (NPHCDA) for North West, Dr. Kabiru Muhammed, represented by the Kano State Coordinator, Maryam Umar, said influencers play a pivotal role in shaping public attitudes towards immunization.
“Our voices are powerful tools to disseminate information and generate the trust necessary for parents to take their children to be vaccinated,” he said. “This is where your creativity and influence become invaluable.”
“With your support, we can build stronger, healthier communities and ensure no child is left behind,” he added.
A representative of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board reaffirmed the state’s readiness for smooth implementation and thanked UNICEF and its development partners for their continued support.
He revealed that the campaign would adopt a house-to-house strategy, complemented by fixed vaccination posts in mosques, churches, markets, schools and health facilities.
“We are targeting almost 3.9 million children aged 0-59 months. Beyond polio, we will integrate routine immunization services, including HPV and other antigens,” he said.
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