The UNICEF’s Kano Chief Field Office, Mr Rahama Farah, disclosed this during a two-day capacity workshop organised for the 34 local government chairmen in the state.

The workshop with the theme, ”Reducing Child Poverty through Social Protection, Using Data for Transformative Evidence-Based Governance”, was organised through the state’s Bureau of Statistics.

According to him, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), records indicate that the children are being deprived of essential dimensions, including health, nutrition and education.

”The NBS Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2022, estimates that more than 75 per cent of children in Katsina are multidimensionally poor.

”Katsina is a state of great potential, rich in human and natural resources, but yet the well-being of its children remains under significant strain. Recent survey data remind us of the scale and urgency of the challenge.

”Based on the 2025 projection by the National Population Commission (NPC), out of an estimated population of 10.3 million people in the state, about 4.6 million (45 per cent) are children under 17 years, and 1.7 million (17 per cent) are under five years.”

He explained that based on NDHS 2023-24, Katsina had approximately 159 deaths per 1,000 live births, adding that this meant that roughly one in six children in the state do not survive to their fifth birthday.

”Just 41 per cent of children in the state are fully immunised, leaving the majority vulnerable to preventable diseases.

”Based on the 2025 SOKAZA SMART Survey, alarmingly, about 46.3 per cent of children under five years are stunted, indicating chronic malnutrition with long-term consequences for health, learning and productivity.

”Also, based on MICS 2021, about 536,000 children in Katsina are currently out of school, underscoring the urgent education challenge we face.

”These numbers are not simply statistics, they represent lost potential, fragile lives, and postponed dreams,” he said.

Farah said that investing in children was therefore not an optional extra, but one of the most strategic and foundational investments the state can make.

He commended the government and all partners in the state for the steps taken, including efforts to promote child-sensitive budgeting, strengthening planning systems and building institutional capacities.

According to him, UNICEF remains proud in partnering with you in allocating resources to improve the overall well-being of children in the state.

”We reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders to turn intention into impact. But goodwill and partnership alone will not suffice unless they are backed by political will, adequate financing, data-driven decision-making, and effective multi-sectoral action.

UNICEF on Tuesday launched the 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week in Kano State, urging stronger investments in child and maternal wellbeing.

Speaking at the event held at Birji Primary Healthcare Centre in Madobi LGA, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Farah, called on stakeholders to prioritize funding and support for women and children’s health across the state.

Speaking at the event, Farah, said that Kano remained a strategic state in addressing issues related to women and children’s rights, owing to its population of over 17 million people, including approximately 3.5 million under-five children and about 900,000 pregnant women.

He said the two rounds of MNCHW scheduled for 2025 were critical in delivering life-saving services to children and mothers in the state.

“The first round of MNCHW will provide Vitamin A supplements, deworming tablets, anti-malaria treatment and immunization services to children, as well as multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) to pregnant women,” Farah stated.

He said UNICEF had supplied sufficient quantities of Vitamin A and MMS to reach over 2.6 million children aged 6–59 months and 500,000 pregnant women, representing 80 per cent of the target population.

Farah expressed concern over the high rate of malnutrition in Nigeria, where about 11 million children under five experience severe food poverty.

“In Kano State, one in two children is stunted, and over 10 per cent are wasted or too thin for their height,” he said, referencing data based on UNICEF and WHO child nutrition indices,” he explained.

The UNICEF official emphasised that child food poverty is one of the most severe forms of deprivation, significantly increasing the risk of wasting, a life-threatening condition.

He encouraged families and caregivers to fully participate in the week-long health campaign to ensure broad coverage of routine immunisation, particularly for Penta, polio, HPV and Td vaccines.

Farah reaffirmed UNICEF’s continued partnership with Kano State across health and nutrition sectors, particularly in supporting children and women in rural and underserved communities.

He urged Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf to prioritise health sector funding and workforce development.

“I appeal to His Excellency to invest more resources in 2025. UNICEF will match this effort by procuring additional Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and MMS through the Child Nutrition Fund,” Farah said.

He also called on the state government to implement a second round of MNCHW by December 2025, procure adequate deworming tablets, extend the duration of paid maternity leave, and scale up health worker deployment in remote areas.

The ceremony was attended by senior government representatives, development partners, traditional leaders and members of the media.

Earlier, Gov. Abba Yusuf commended UNICEF and other development partners for supporting the state government’s efforts to improve the health of residents.

Yusuf, who was represented by his Deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, especially at the primary healthcare level.

Speaking also, the Commissioner for Health Dr Abubakar Labaran, said several health facilities had been renovated under the current administration, with free medical services provided to residents as part of broader health sector reforms.

Labaran listed a number of Primary Health Care Centres that had already benefited from the interventions, and assured that the Ministry of Health would continue to monitor health facilities to enhance service delivery.

According to him, the campaign aims to protect thousands of children and vulnerable populations during the peak malaria transmission season through the administration of preventive medication and distribution of treated mosquito nets across the state.