Dutse, July 10, 2026
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Jigawa State Government, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen collaboration on child nutrition, education, health and social protection programmes.
The commitment was renewed on Friday when the new Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Shafeeq Rehman paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Umar Namadi at the Government House, Dutse.
Rehman said the visit was to formally introduce himself following his appointment as the head of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, which oversees Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, and to reaffirm the organisation’s commitment to supporting development initiatives across the region.
He commended the Jigawa State Government for its sustained investments in child-centred development programmes, describing the state as a national model in several key areas, including the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign, the MASAKI Nutrition Programme and the timely release of nutrition intervention funds.
According to him, UNICEF recognises Jigawa’s consistent efforts in prioritising critical development issues that directly impact the wellbeing of children and vulnerable populations.
“Jigawa has continued to demonstrate strong political commitment to programmes that improve children’s lives. The state remains a leader in achieving Open Defecation Free status, and UNICEF will continue to provide technical and other forms of support to sustain these gains,” he said.
Rehman also reaffirmed UNICEF’s readiness to deepen its partnership with the state in the areas of nutrition, child protection, quality education, social protection and the promotion of children’s rights.
Responding, Gov. Umar Namadi comgratulated the new UNICEF, expressing confidence that the existing partnership would continue to flourish.
The governor then acknowledged UNICEF’s longstanding support for Jigawa in advancing programmes that protect children, empower women and improve the welfare of vulnerable communities.
He noted that UNICEF had remained a dependable development partner to the state since its creation, evolving from providing humanitarian assistance to becoming a strategic partner in sustainable development.
According to him, the collaboration has recorded significant achievements in healthcare delivery, nutrition, education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), child protection, social protection, social policy implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation in line with the state’s strategic development agenda.
Namadi urged UNICEF to sustain its support to Jigawa, as it intensifies efforts to reduce poverty, improve health and nutrition outcomes, expand access to quality education by addressing out-of-school children menace.
