The Katsina State Government has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to launch a comprehensive three-year work plan aimed at safeguarding and advancing the rights and wellbeing of women and children in the state.
The agreement, which covers 2025 to 2027, was signed at the Katsina Government House and marks a renewed commitment to invest strategically in critical sectors that support child and women development.
UNICEF’s Kano Field Office Chief, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, emphasized that the partnership is more than a formal arrangement it represents a shared vision to build a brighter, healthier, and inclusive future for every child and woman in Katsina. The work plan focuses on improving health, nutrition, education, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and social policies. It also aligns with Katsina’s ambitious goals, including eradicating polio by 2025 and achieving Open Defecation Free status, which would make Katsina only the second state in Nigeria to reach such standards.
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Mr. Farah praised the proactive investments already made by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration, highlighting initiatives such as Hadaka and MCH-Track that center on children’s health. He urged further commitment from the state government to increase budget allocations to these vital sectors to build resilient systems less dependent on external aid. The work plan also underscores the government’s role in tackling urgent social challenges like the rising number of out-of-school children and vaccine hesitancy at the community level.
Governor Radda reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to child welfare, expressing gratitude for UNICEF’s continued support in driving sustainable development across the state. He highlighted the over N120 billion investment in education, which includes teacher recruitment, scholarship programs, and improvements in science and technical education infrastructure.
This partnership between Katsina and UNICEF signals a comprehensive approach to protecting and promoting the rights of some of the state’s most vulnerable populations women and children ensuring no one is left behind in the march towards social and economic progress.
The Katsina-UNICEF pact is a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing societal challenges and building a future where children and women enjoy full rights, protection, and opportunities to thrive.
NAN
