By Ibrahim Muhammad
Governor Malam Umar Namadi has reaffirmed Jigawa State’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to improve child protection, social welfare and human development across the state.
The governor made the pledge on Friday while receiving the newly appointed Chief of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, and members of his delegation at the Government House in Dutse.
Namadi described the relationship between Jigawa State and UNICEF as a partnership spanning more than three decades, saying it has grown into a trusted alliance dedicated to improving the lives of children and women.
He noted that since the creation of Jigawa State in 1991, UNICEF has remained a key development partner, supporting programmes that have produced measurable progress in healthcare, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, social protection and social policy.
According to the governor, these interventions are in line with the state’s Greater Jigawa Vision and his administration’s 12-Point Agenda, which place priority on inclusive development and improved quality of life for residents.
Governor Namadi also observed that the visit came shortly after the North-West High-Level Policy Dialogue on Reducing Multidimensional Poverty through Innovative Financing and Expanded Social Protection Systems, organised by UNICEF under the North-West Governors’ Forum.
He congratulated Mr. Ur-Rehman on his appointment and expressed confidence that his leadership would further strengthen collaboration between UNICEF and Jigawa State, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to implement policies that enhance the welfare of children, women and vulnerable groups.
Speaking earlier, the UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief commended Governor Namadi for his commitment to child-focused development, noting that several initiatives introduced by the Jigawa State Government have become examples for other states.
He cited Jigawa’s achievement as Nigeria’s first Open Defecation Free (ODF) state and the state’s pioneering MASAKI community-based nutrition initiative, both of which have attracted national recognition and are being replicated elsewhere.
Mr. Ur-Rehman also applauded the state’s sustained counterpart funding for nutrition programmes, adding that UNICEF and its development partners have continued to complement the government’s investment in tackling malnutrition.
He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with Jigawa State and disclosed that the agency is already working with the government to ensure that the needs of children in the state are reflected in the Government of Nigeria–UNICEF Country Programme for 2028–2032.
