The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commenced high-level consultations with governments and development partners in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states as part of efforts to design a new country programme aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian children between 2028 and 2032.
The initiative, which forms part of the Federal Government of Nigeria/UNICEF Country Programme planning process, seeks to develop practical and long-term solutions to emerging challenges affecting children across the North-West region.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ consultation in Kano on Wednesday, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, said the next phase of intervention must respond to growing threats such as climate change, insecurity, rapid urbanisation and other socio-economic pressures impacting children and families.
According to him, the consultation is designed to ensure that the new programme reflects the realities on the ground and is driven by the needs of communities rather than predetermined policies.
“We are here to listen, to learn and to co-create—not to present predetermined solutions,” Ur-Rehman told participants.
He stressed that the proposed programme should be government-led, evidence-driven and fully integrated across key sectors including education, healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection and social welfare.
Ur-Rehman explained that the discussions would help identify the most pressing child rights challenges in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states while generating scalable and sustainable interventions for the next five years.
He also commended the three state governments for their continued commitment to improving the welfare and development of children across the region.
Representing the governments and development partners, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Alhaji Abdulmumini Ajumawa, praised UNICEF for its longstanding support and partnership in advancing child-focused development programmes.
He described UNICEF as a dependable ally that has contributed significantly to strengthening critical sectors such as health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, child protection, social policy and emergency response systems.
Ajumawa noted that although the partnership had produced measurable gains in several development indicators, many challenges continued to threaten the well-being of children in the region.
“The North-West region continues to face challenges, including child malnutrition, learning poverty, limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate water and sanitation, child protection concerns, climate vulnerabilities and socio-economic inequalities,” he said.
He observed that while each state faces unique circumstances, many of the issues affecting children are shared across state boundaries and require coordinated action.
The acting permanent secretary urged stakeholders to use the consultation to develop innovative, practical and sustainable solutions tailored to the realities of local communities.
He further emphasised the importance of aligning donor and partner interventions with government priorities and existing development plans to strengthen ownership, improve coordination and build lasting institutional capacity.
The consultation marks an early step in shaping a new development framework that UNICEF and government authorities hope will better protect children and expand access to essential services across the North-West over the next five years.
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