Musa Na Allah, Sokoto.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) worldwide, Catherine Russell, has lauded the Sokoto State Government for its commitment to improving the welfare of children, saying the state has the potential to emerge as a national model in healthcare, education and child development.
Russell made the commendation on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu in Sokoto as part of her official mission to Nigeria. She was received by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, who represented the governor.
The UNICEF chief said Nigeria’s successful certification as free of the wild polio virus in 2020 remains one of the strongest examples of how complex public health challenges can be overcome through effective leadership, community mobilisation and strategic partnerships.
According to her, the achievement serves as a reminder that sustained commitment and collaboration are essential to safeguarding the health and future of children across the country.
“Today, our responsibility is to protect these gains by ensuring that every child receives routine immunisation, every missed child is reached and surveillance systems remain robust,” Russell said.
She noted that Sokoto occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s development agenda due to its large youth population and the opportunities available to transform the lives of millions of children through targeted investments in education and healthcare.
Russell disclosed that she visited a digital learning centre and a primary healthcare facility in the state, where she witnessed literacy programmes, vocational training initiatives, life-skills development projects, routine immunisation services and nutrition screening exercises.
“What I saw today reflects a clear commitment to investing in children. These programmes are equipping young people with knowledge, skills and opportunities while strengthening access to quality healthcare services,” she stated.
The UNICEF Executive Director expressed optimism that Sokoto could become one of Nigeria’s strongest examples of political commitment to child survival and human capital development if current reforms are sustained.
She added that UNICEF is willing to deepen its collaboration with the state government by supporting evidence based policies, strengthening public institutions and promoting programmes capable of delivering measurable outcomes for children and families.
Russell further stressed that investments in education, health and skills acquisition are critical to building human capital and accelerating economic growth, noting that every child given the opportunity to learn contributes to national prosperity.
Responding, Governor Ahmed Aliyu, represented by Deputy Governor Gobir, expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its longstanding partnership with Sokoto State and for selecting the state as one of the destinations during the Executive Director’s visit to Nigeria.
The governor highlighted several interventions undertaken by his administration, including free healthcare services for pregnant women and children, rehabilitation of health facilities, provision of potable water and the recruitment of more than 1,500 nurses and midwives as well as 2,440 Community Health Extension Workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
He also disclosed that the state, in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners, had established 10 Integrated Qur’anic Schools, child-friendly centres and vocational training facilities aimed at addressing the challenges of out-of-school children and empowering Almajiri youths.
Aliyu noted that over 2,720 Almajiri and out-of-school children had graduated from government supported skills acquisition centres and received starter packs to enable them become self reliant.
He acknowledged UNICEF’s support under various programmes, including those funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNFPA.
The governor, however, appealed for increased support in rebuilding schools and healthcare facilities affected by insecurity in parts of the state, stressing that attacks on communities have damaged critical infrastructure.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with UNICEF and other development partners to improve maternal and child health, expand access to education and secure a brighter future for children across Sokoto State.
