By Abdullahi Inuwa
In a landmark move to uplift the lives of children and women in Katsina State, the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF and the Katsina State Government have signed a Multi-Year Workplan (MYWP) covering 2025 to 2027.
The ceremony, held at the Government House, was graced by His Excellency, Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda, and featured a keynote speech by Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Sereke Seyoum Deres, Health Manager at UNICEF.
“This Workplan is more than a document — it’s a shared commitment to build a brighter, healthier, and more inclusive future for every child in Katsina State,” Dr. Deres stated, emphasizing UNICEF’s continued partnership with the state.
Mr. Farah lauded Governor Radda’s administration for its proactive investment in children-centered initiatives, including the groundbreaking Hadaka and MCH-Track programs. He called on the government to further deepen its financial commitments to key sectors such as health, nutrition, education, WASH, and child protection.
Highlighting urgent concerns, UNICEF stressed the need to eliminate polio in Katsina by 2025, tackle the rise in out-of-school children, and accelerate efforts to declare the state Open Defecation Free — a move that would make Katsina only the second state in Nigeria to achieve such status.
Farah also urged the government to prioritize a universal child grant scheme and enact a strong social protection framework through the launch of its State Development Plan and approved social protection policy.
“As we sign this plan today, we are not just setting goals — we are making a promise to every child in Katsina that they will not be left behind,” Dr. Deres concluded.
Governor Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to child welfare, expressing gratitude to UNICEF for its continued support and partnership in driving sustainable development in Katsina State.
The 2025–2027 Workplan outlines ambitious interventions aimed at building resilient systems and ensuring the wellbeing of future generations — a true milestone in the journey to a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Katsina.
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