The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has praised the Sokoto State Government for prioritising investments in child healthcare, education and protection, describing such efforts as essential to building Nigeria’s future.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell made the remarks during an official visit to Sokoto on Friday. She toured the Rumbukawa Primary Health Centre and a Digital Village, where she interacted with healthcare workers, teachers, mothers, young people and government officials.
Representing Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Deputy Governor Idris Mohammed Gobir welcomed the UNICEF delegation and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the agency and other development organisations. He thanked UNICEF for choosing Sokoto as one of the states on Russell’s Nigeria tour and acknowledged its contributions to maternal and child healthcare, education and child protection.
Gobir said the state government had made healthcare a major priority since assuming office, pointing to the renovation of health facilities, the recruitment of over 1,500 nurses and midwives, and the deployment of 2,440 Community Health Extension Workers to primary healthcare centres across the state. He added that the government had also invested in rural water projects, school infrastructure and environmental improvements.
According to him, collaboration with UNICEF has resulted in the establishment of 10 integrated Qur’anic schools, child-friendly centres in Shuni and Dange-Shuni Local Government Areas, ICT training facilities for Almajiri children and vocational programmes that have equipped 2,723 out-of-school children with skills and start-up support.
Gobir said Sokoto continues to work with organisations such as UNICEF, Plan International and Save the Children to improve the welfare of women and children. However, he noted that insecurity remains a major challenge, affecting schools and healthcare facilities in parts of the state. He appealed for additional support from UNICEF and other partners to rebuild health and educational facilities damaged during attacks.
The deputy governor also expressed appreciation for UNICEF’s continued interventions, including European Union-funded programmes aimed at reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality. He assured the agency that the state would continue working closely with it to promote the well-being and rights of children and women.
Responding, Russell described her visit as inspiring, saying she had witnessed firsthand the positive impact of cooperation between government, communities and development partners. She commended frontline health workers, teachers, local leaders and mothers for their dedication to giving children a better future.
The UNICEF chief said her meetings with Nigerian leaders, diplomats, private sector representatives and young people had reinforced her belief in the country’s enormous potential despite existing challenges. She stressed that Nigeria’s future would be shaped by the decisions taken today to ensure children are healthy, educated and protected.
Russell reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting both the Federal Government and state governments, including Sokoto, in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, learn, thrive and reach their full potential.