Save the Children International (SCI) has raised alarm over the alarming number of zero-dose children—those who have never received a single routine vaccine—in Nigeria, estimating the figure at 2.1 million.

The revelation was made in a press statement signed by Delfhin Mugo, Media Manager at SCI, highlighting a new initiative aimed at breaking barriers to child immunization.
The initiative, backed by Save the Children Immunisation Accelerator and funded by GSK, has awarded grants to two innovative projects in Nigeria and Ethiopia to tackle vaccine hesitancy and reach underserved communities.
Two organizations, Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) in Nigeria and HABTech Solutions PLC in Ethiopia, were selected from 120 submissions to receive technical and financial support, including grants of nearly $100,000 each, to further their efforts in improving immunization coverage.

According to Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, CEO of CIHP, their approach leverages community-driven behavioral change strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy, particularly in urban slums of Lagos State.

“Our innovation will focus on real-life experiences of caregivers who successfully vaccinated their children, using their stories to inspire others. This funding will help identify gaps and missed opportunities in immunization uptake, moving us closer to our goal of higher vaccination coverage,” Dr. Oyeledun explained.

On the other hand, Adane Letta Mamuye, General Manager at HABTech, emphasized the role of data analytics in tracking zero-dose children, particularly in remote communities. Their technology-driven approach aims to map out immunization gaps, address vaccine shortages, and provide real-time solutions to improve immunization efforts.

Speaking on the initiative, Ermias Teshome, Save the Children Immunisation Accelerator Lead, underscored the importance of locally driven solutions in tackling child immunization challenges.

“Every child deserves access to life-saving vaccinations. The urgent challenges in child immunization require innovative approaches, and the projects by CIHP and HABTech Solutions have demonstrated remarkable potential to deliver impactful change,” he stated.

The innovations will be piloted alongside Save the Children’s vaccination programs in collaboration with GSK in Nigeria and Ethiopia. The ultimate goal is to create a world free from vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring that every child has access to essential healthcare.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa State Government has reiterated its commitment to continuing the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme for primary school pupils across the state.

The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Haruna Musa, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office.
He confirmed that the 2025 approved budget includes provisions for the programme, ensuring its continuity once the Federal Government resumes its funding.

Professor Musa explained that the school feeding programme is a joint initiative between the federal and state governments, with the federal government funding meals for pupils in primary one to three, while Jigawa State covers primary four to six. However, the programme was suspended due to the federal government halting its funding.

“Governor Malam Umar Namadi has consistently made provisions for school feeding in every annual budget. He allocated funds in 2024 and increased the amount in 2025 to accommodate possible inflation in food prices. The state government is fully prepared to resume the programme as soon as the federal government reinstates its funding,” Musa stated.

He urged the federal government to revisit the programme without further delay, emphasizing its positive impact on school attendance when it was previously active.
Reacting to a recent UNICEF report, which listed Jigawa as one of the states with the highest number of out-of-school children and poor foundational literacy and numeracy skills, Professor Musa acknowledged the challenge but described it as an inherited problem that has persisted for decades.
“Governor Malam Umar Namadi is committed to addressing this issue through strategic measures, including recruiting over 5,000 qualified teachers and providing adequate teaching and learning materials to schools,” he said.
As part of its reforms, the Jigawa State Government has partnered with NewGlobe, a UK-based education solutions provider, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the “Jigawa Unite” initiative aimed at transforming basic education in the state.
“Our partnership with NewGlobe is a deliberate step toward improving foundational education. We are committed to ensuring every child in Jigawa receives quality education, and I believe history will judge us right for this investment in our children’s future,” Musa added.
According to UNICEF data, Jigawa State has about 800,000 out-of-school children, with only 2% of primary school learners possessing foundational reading skills, while less than 1% demonstrate basic numeracy skills.
With the renewed focus on school feeding, teacher recruitment, and strategic partnerships, the state government hopes to improve school enrollment and educational outcomes across Jigawa.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa State Revenue Agency has launched a community outreach campaign in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency to boost internal revenue generation.

A statement issued in Dutse by Executive Director of Prime Initiative, Muhammad Abdu Dutse disclosed that the campaign which began last week, has covered six major markets across the state.
The initiative aims to educate traders, community leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders on tax compliance while fostering trust between taxpayers and tax authorities.

Key highlights of the campaign included direct engagements with market participants, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns and discuss ways to improve their businesses and tax remittances.

“Over 600 participants attended the outreach across the six markets, with shop-to-shop engagements ensuring inclusivity.
Out of 54 grievances recorded, 34 were resolved on-site within an average time of 30 minutes,” the statement revealed.
The initiative emphasized the importance of transparency in tax collection, with participants gaining insights into their tax obligations, the developmental impact of taxes, and how to access Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) services. Many stakeholders also expressed the need for improved infrastructure, including better market facilities, to enhance tax compliance.

“This outreach has significantly strengthened trust and transparency between the government and taxpayers. By engaging directly with communities, we are laying a foundation for sustainable revenue generation and improved public service delivery in Jigawa State,” Muhammad Abdu Dutse stated.

Market leaders also praised the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable tax system. The Market Leader of Maigatari Market noted, “Face-to-face engagement and immediate grievance resolution have helped us better understand how taxes are utilized.”
Participants recommended that the Jigawa State government adopt a “tax-for-service” model to increase accountability and compliance.
They urged the government to implement policies that address citizens’ immediate needs and foster a conducive environment for tax payments.

The markets visited so far include Hadejia, Gujungu, Sara, Maigatari, and Shuwari.