EU, UNICEF and Sokoto State Join Forces to Boost Health and Education for Women and Children

The European Union (EU), UNICEF, and the Sokoto State Government have launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving healthcare and education for women, children, and adolescents in the state.

 This collaboration includes the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) programme, which focuses on enhancing reproductive and adolescent health services for women. 

The Education and Youth Empowerment in Northwestern Nigeria programme also aims to increase access to quality education for over 1.5 million children across Sokoto, Kano, and Jigawa states. 

During a recent visit to Sokoto, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Sokoto’s healthcare system through the SARAH project. 

UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, acknowledged improvements in primary healthcare but emphasised the need for more well-equipped facilities at the ward level to meet the growing demands. 

Sokoto State’s Commissioner for Health, Hon. Faruk Wurno, announced that contracts have been awarded for revitalising 116 primary healthcare centres across the state. 

These facilities will be upgraded with solar power and other essential infrastructure to enhance service delivery. 

The goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality by addressing critical health indicators through the SARAH initiative. 

In the education sector, the EU and UNICEF’s joint programme aims to support the efforts of governments in the three states to increase access to inclusive, quality basic education in underserved, nomadic communities.

 The programme includes training or retraining 30 per cent of existing teachers and providing vocational education as well as critical social life skills to the youth. 

Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State expressed his administration’s commitment to ensuring quality education for children across the state. 

He noted that about 25% of the state’s 2024 budget has been allocated to education to facilitate effective teaching and learning. 

This collaboration among the EU, UNICEF, and the Sokoto State Government represents a unified effort to close gaps in health and education services, with a shared vision of empowering communities and promoting sustainable development.