Officials of the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) and other social protection MDAs have undertaken a learning visit to Jigawa State to understudy its social protection programmes and implementation framework.
The visit, facilitated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Jigawa State, was held at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, as part of efforts to strengthen programme delivery and institutional capacity in Kano State.
Speaking during the visit, the Director General of KASPA, Dr. Fatima Abubakar Abdullahi, said the agency, established in July 2025, remains committed to implementing comprehensive social protection initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable groups across Kano.
She commended the Jigawa State Government for the opportunity to share knowledge and best practices, while also appreciating the Kano State Government under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf for establishing the agency and supporting interventions targeted at the poor and vulnerable.
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“Immediately we return to Kano, we will make deliberate efforts to implement similar social protection components observed in Jigawa,” she said, noting that plans are underway to roll out humanitarian programmes to reduce hardship and improve living standards, particularly for youth, women, children, and the elderly.
Also speaking, Social Protection Specialist with the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Fatimah Musa, commended participants for their active engagement during the recent capacity building workshop and expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would strengthen collaboration among MDAs in Kano.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured Katanga in Kiyawa Local Government Area, where they observed firsthand the implementation of various social protection programmes in Jigawa State.
Reacting, the Director of Sustainable Development Goals in the ministry, Basiru Nasoro, said the programmes are designed to reduce hardship and improve citizens’ welfare, noting that effective social protection also enhances trust and strengthens the relationship between government and the people.
He highlighted key initiatives including old age cash transfer programmes, support for pregnant women and lactating mothers, and social security schemes for persons with special needs. According to him, beneficiaries are selected across 287 political wards, with each ward allocated specific numbers under different intervention categories.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Babangida Ibrahim Ganda, represented by the Director of the State Bureau of Statistics, Jamilu Garba Yari, appreciated the Kano State Government for recognising Jigawa’s progress in social protection and initiating the learning exchange.
The delegation also included the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Isyaku Abdullahi Kubarachi, alongside directors from various social protection MDAs.
The tour followed a three-day capacity building training on child welfare data generation, policy design, and implementation held in Dutse, Jigawa State. The exercise was organised by the Kano State Social Protection Agency with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office.
The delegation also paid a visit to the Jigawa State Secretariat, a central complex that houses key government institutions, including ministries and MDAs, as well as the legislative and judicial arms of the state.
As part of the engagement, souvenirs were presented to the Kano State delegation by the Jigawa State Government, in line with its tradition of appreciating participants during such occasions, further strengthening the spirit of collaboration between the two states.
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