By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Government** has signed a landmark*three-year Multi-Year Work Plan (2025-2027) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)**, reinforcing its commitment to **healthcare, education, child protection, and social policy.
Speaking at the Government House in Dutse, Governor Malam Umar Namadi described the agreement as a milestone in Jigawa’s development journey**, emphasizing UNICEF’s **decades-long partnership with the state.
“UNICEF has been our most consistent development partner, supporting our efforts for over 30 years. This new work plan is a continuation of that fruitful collaboration to improve the lives of our children and women,”* Namadi stated.
Core Focus Areas of the Agreement are in Healthcare & Nutrition, Expanding maternal and child healthcare, vaccination programs, and nutrition support, in the Education to Strengthen school infrastructure, teacher training, and initiatives to boost enrollment, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) to Enhance access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
The last but not the least is in the area of Child Protection & Social Policy to Strengthen policies to safeguard children’s rights and improve social services.
UNICEF’s Chief of Kano Field Office, Rahama Mohammed Farah, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stressing the need for sustained investment from the Jigawa State Government.
“This plan is not just an agreement; it is a roadmap for a brighter future for Jigawa’s children. However, with global donor funding in decline, the state government must increase its financial commitment to ensure sustainability,” Farah stated.
Farah urged Jigawa authorities to prioritize domestic funding for critical sectors, warning that reliance on external resources alone may not be sufficient to sustain the ambitious goals set under the agreement.
As Jigawa and UNICEF embark on this strategic partnership, the state is poised to strengthen its social infrastructure, ensuring better education, healthcare, and protection for its children and vulnerable populations.