Musa Na-Allah, Sokoto
Sokoto State has approved N100 million in its 2025 budget for family planning programs, becoming the first state in Northern Nigeria to make such a commitment.
The announcement came as The Challenge Initiative (TCI) officially concluded its intervention in the state.
The milestone was unveiled on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at Umar Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, themed “Sustaining Sokoto State to Self-Reliance in Family Planning.”
The event drew government officials, health professionals, civil society organizations, and community leaders who have worked closely with TCI in driving reproductive health initiatives.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Bello Marnona, said the moment marked both reflection and renewed commitment.
He emphasised that under Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s leadership, Sokoto would ensure that no woman, child, or family was left behind in accessing reproductive healthcare.
“Family planning is not just a health issue; it is a cornerstone of poverty reduction, maternal survival, and socio-economic growth. The progress made must be protected and built upon by every stakeholder,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of TCI, Chief of Party Nigeria, Dr. Taiwo Johnson, assured stakeholders that although the project’s active phase in Sokoto was ending, technical support would remain available to strengthen systems and sustain progress.
Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Larai Aliyu, commended TCI for its support since 2022, noting that the partnership had significantly boosted the state’s reproductive health capacity.
She announced the governor’s approval of N100 million for family planning in the 2025 budget, describing it as “a bold declaration of political will and commitment to essential services.”
Participants also highlighted success stories under TCI, including improved health worker capacity, stronger community awareness, and enhanced collaboration between government and partners.
Media representatives and civil society leaders called for stronger community ownership, stressing that sustainability depends on local advocacy and active involvement of traditional institutions.
As TCI winds down, stakeholders resolved to deepen collaboration, mobilise domestic resources, and embed family planning into Sokoto’s healthcare priorities.
For many, the N100 million allocation represents more than just figures; it marks a historic shift from donor reliance to state-led sustainability in healthcare financing.
Sokoto TCI Program Manager, Dr. Bello Abubakar Kilgori, summed up the mood: “Sokoto is ready to own its progress, protect the gains, and build a future where family planning is fully integrated into the health system.”
