![UNICEF Health Manager, Dr. Sereke Seyoum-Deres and Katsina Governor, Dikko Radda during the signing. [PHOTO CREDIT: NAN]](https://crediblenewsng.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_20250410_112411_283-768x576-1.jpg)
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and the Katsina State Government have signed a three-year work plan aimed at enhancing the well-being of children in the state.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kano, Mr. Rahama Mohammed-Farah, announced this during the signing of the plan on Thursday in Katsina. He emphasized that the work plan was not merely a document but a reflection of the shared vision for a brighter future for every child in Katsina State.
Mohammed-Farah was represented at the occasion by the UNICEF Health Manager, Dr. Sereke Seyoum-Deres. He noted that the work plan encompasses various sectors, including health, nutrition, education, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, and social policy.
“Children are the future of this great nation, and investing in their well-being is not only a moral imperative but a strategic decision that will yield long-term dividends for the state’s development,” he stated.
The UNICEF representative also pointed out that the polio virus remained a significant threat to children’s health in the state, stressing that eradicating polio must be a top priority in 2025.
He called for a concerted effort to mobilize communities, raise awareness, and ensure that every part of Katsina is reached, urging parents to vaccinate their children.
He also recommended that the Katsina Government take the lead at the ward, district, and local government levels to address vaccine refusals.
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He further encouraged the state government to leverage its own resources, explore public-private partnerships, and strengthen community-based initiatives to ensure that no child was left behind.
In addressing the growing number of out-of-school children, Mohammed-Farah emphasized the importance of improving the quality of early learning and increasing school readiness from the primary school level.
He assured that UNICEF would continue to support the Katsina government in achieving Open Defecation Free status for the remaining seven local governments.
The UNICEF representative also requested that the state government prioritize child-sensitive social protection interventions to combat the multiple deprivations faced by children in both rural and urban areas.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, expressed his commitment to improving the lives and well-being of children in the state. He emphasized that his administration would continue to focus on children’s education, recognizing its crucial role in nation-building.
Radda highlighted that his government had invested over N100 billion in the education sector, covering areas such as teacher recruitment, support for science and technical education, scholarship awards, and school construction.
NAN
![Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye. [PHOTO CREDIT: Punch Newspaper]](https://crediblenewsng.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/images-6-1-75x75.jpeg)
