Northwest

Governors of Nigeria’s North-West states have pledged to implement concrete and time-bound measures aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty and improving the welfare of children and women across the region. The commitment was contained in a statement signed by UNICEF Kano Communication Specialist, Samuel Kaalu, and made available to ‘The Historica Nigeria’ on Thursday following the conclusion of a two day high-level policy dialogue held in Kano. The dialogue was convened by the North-West Governors’ Forum in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, the European Union (EU), UNICEF and other development partners. The two-day event brought together governors, federal ministers, senior government officials, traditional and religious leaders, private sector representatives, youth groups and development partners to deliberate on practical strategies for addressing poverty and vulnerability across the region. Read Also: Photos: FG, North-West Governors, Development Partners Unite on Social Protection Agenda North-West Poverty Requires Collective Regional Action, Says Maryam Yahaya UNICEF expands digital learning programme to tackle school dropout, youth unemployment Home to an estimated 60 million people, the North-West continues to face some of the highest levels of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, with children and women disproportionately affected. The region also grapples with challenges related to education, healthcare, nutrition, water and sanitation, income security, displacement and insecurity. Participants at the dialogue focused on strengthening social protection systems, improving access to quality healthcare and education, and mobilising sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms to support vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. At the end of the meeting, the governors adopted a joint communiqué outlining key commitments aimed at expanding social protection systems, including child-focused benefits, strengthening service delivery and increasing domestic financing for poverty reduction programmes. The governors also endorsed a roadmap and monitoring framework designed to track progress and ensure accountability in the implementation of agreed actions across the seven North-West states. Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, described the outcome of the dialogue as a transition from commitments to action. According to him, the region now has a clear set of priorities and responsibilities that will guide investments in people, particularly children, and ensure that communities experience measurable improvements in their living conditions. “The region now has a clear set of priorities and responsibilities that will guide how we invest in our people, particularly children, and deliver results that communities can see and feel,” he stated. Vice President Kashim Shettima underscored the importance of sustained leadership and coordination in ensuring that the resolutions reached at the dialogue translate into tangible benefits for citizens across the North-West. Represented at the event, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for the states and emphasized that the true measure of success would be the speed and effectiveness with which the commitments improve the lives of families across the region. Also speaking, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, highlighted the importance of adequate financing and accountability mechanisms in achieving lasting change. He noted that strong commitments must be supported by sustained investments and transparent systems capable of ensuring that resources reach the people who need them most. The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, stressed the urgency of accelerating interventions targeted at children in the North-West, noting that millions of children remain vulnerable to poverty and deprivation. According to her, expanding social protection programmes and improving access to healthcare and education will determine whether children in the region have the opportunity to survive, learn and thrive. “For children in the North-West, time is critical. Expanding social protection, improving access to health and education, and prioritising the most vulnerable will determine whether millions of children have the chance to survive, learn and thrive,” she said. The dialogue forms part of broader regional efforts aimed at strengthening peace, security and socio-economic development, with stakeholders recognising that reducing poverty and vulnerability remains essential to achieving long-term stability and growth. UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with governments and development partners to support the implementation of the resolutions reached at the dialogue and to ensure that every child, especially the most vulnerable, benefits from social protection and development programmes. The organisation noted that achieving meaningful progress in the North-West is critical not only for Nigeria but also for broader regional and global development goals.

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano The Director General of the North-West Governors’ Forum Secretariat, Hajiya Maryam Musa Yahaya, has emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing multidimensional poverty and other development challenges confronting the North-West region. Speaking during the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue on Reducing Multidimensional Poverty Through Scaled Social Protection Systems and Innovative Financing held in Kano, Maryam Yahaya described the gathering as a critical platform for translating regional commitments into practical actions that improve the lives of citizens. The dialogue, organized under the theme, “From Commitment to Implementation: Financing the Future of Every Child and Leaving No One in the North-West Behind,” brought together governors, policymakers, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and traditional institutions from across the region. In her welcome address, the Director General noted that despite the North-West’s vast human and economic potential, the region continues to face significant development challenges, including high levels of multidimensional poverty, insecurity, poor health outcomes, climate-related vulnerabilities, displacement, and a growing population of out-of-school children. Read Also: The Historica Nigeria Report Triggers Govt Action as Commissioner Stops Tree Cutting at ARTV Ganduje Links Rising Begging in North to Poor Support for Disabled Persons Nigeria Records Over 2 Million Zero-Dose Children, Ranks Among Highest Globally — Save the Children She stressed that these challenges transcend state boundaries and therefore require coordinated regional responses. According to her, social protection should not be viewed as a charitable intervention but as a strategic investment in human capital development, social stability, productivity, and long-term economic growth. Maryam Yahaya explained that the dialogue forms part of the implementation framework of the North-West Peace, Security and Development Framework, a regional roadmap adopted by the governors to address the root causes of fragility while promoting sustainable development. She highlighted the need for innovative financing mechanisms to complement government efforts, noting that fiscal constraints make it necessary to explore partnerships with the private sector, philanthropic organizations, development partners, and Islamic social finance institutions such as Zakat and Waqf. The Director General also underscored the role of the North-West Governors’ Forum Secretariat in coordinating regional initiatives, supporting evidence-based policymaking, tracking commitments, and strengthening collaboration among member states. She commended development partners, including the European Union, UNICEF, the United Nations, philanthropic organizations, and private sector stakeholders, for supporting efforts aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening social protection systems across the region. Maryam Yahaya urged participants to focus on practical solutions and implementation, stressing that the success of the dialogue would be measured not by the quality of discussions alone but by the impact of agreed actions on the lives of vulnerable populations across the seven North-West states. She called on governments, development partners, traditional institutions, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, and communities to work together in building a more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive North-West region.

Key stakeholders from government, development agencies, the private sector, and civil society have converged in Kano State for a High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue aimed at addressing multidimensional poverty through scaled social protection systems and innovative financing mechanisms. The two-day dialogue, organised by the North-West Governors’ Forum Secretariat under the theme, “From Commitment to Implementation: Financing the Future of Every Child and Leaving No One in the North-West Behind,” brought together policymakers, development partners, traditional institutions, philanthropic organisations, and experts to deliberate on practical strategies for reducing poverty and improving social welfare across the region. In her welcome address, the Director General of the North-West Governors’ Forum Secretariat, Hajiya Maryam Musa Yahaya, described the gathering as a critical step toward translating regional commitments into concrete actions. She noted that despite the North-West’s enormous human and economic potential, the region continues to grapple with multidimensional poverty, poor health outcomes, insecurity, climate-related challenges, displacement, and a high number of out-of-school children. According to her, social protection should not be viewed as charity but as an investment in human capital, stability, productivity, and long-term regional development. Read Also: UNICEF expands digital learning programme to tackle school dropout, youth unemployment Nigeria Records Over 2 Million Zero-Dose Children, Ranks Among Highest Globally — Save the Children The Historica Nigeria Report Triggers Govt Action as Commissioner Stops Tree Cutting at ARTV Maryam Yahaya explained that the dialogue aligns with the implementation of the North-West Peace, Security and Development Framework, a regional roadmap adopted by the governors to address the drivers of fragility while accelerating human development. She stressed the need for innovative financing approaches, including partnerships with the private sector, philanthropic institutions, and Islamic social finance mechanisms such as Zakat and Waqf, to complement government efforts in tackling poverty. Speaking on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening social protection programmes and improving the welfare of vulnerable citizens. Garo said Kano State has already taken significant steps through the enactment of the Social Protection Policy Law in 2025 and the establishment of the Social Protection Directorate under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. He noted that the administration has continued to invest in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, skills acquisition, and social intervention programmes, but acknowledged the need for more integrated, data-driven, transparent, and sustainable social protection systems. The Deputy Governor emphasized that innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, blended financing models, and enhanced domestic resource mobilisation would be essential in expanding social protection coverage and building resilience among vulnerable populations. Also speaking, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr. Ronak Khan, highlighted the importance of strengthening social protection programmes across the North-West, particularly for children and vulnerable households. He stressed the need for coordinated investments in health, education, nutrition, and child welfare to ensure that no child is left behind. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah Odoh, assured participants of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting social protection initiatives through dedicated budgetary allocations and policy support. Similarly, the Head of Human Development Section of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, called on policymakers to sustain investments in social welfare programmes, noting that long-term commitment would significantly reduce poverty and improve living standards across the region. In his contribution, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, advocated stronger policy measures to address the growing culture of street begging in Northern Nigeria. He argued that access to both conventional and Islamic education should not be tied to begging, stressing that addressing the practice would contribute to social order, moral development, and human capital growth. During a plenary session titled “The State of Multidimensional Poverty in the North-West: The Cost of Inaction, On Why Child Poverty Demands Immediate Financing Reforms,” Strategic Adviser to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr. Maryam Uwais, emphasised the urgent need for increased investments in children. She warned that failure to address child poverty would have long-term consequences on education, healthcare, productivity, and economic growth, urging governments and development partners to prioritise financing reforms that directly impact vulnerable children and families. Also speaking during another technical session, the Programme Coordinator of the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), Dr. Funmi Oluto, highlighted the critical role of social registries in building an effective social protection system. She explained that reliable and updated social registry data remains essential for identifying vulnerable households, improving programme targeting, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that social interventions reach intended beneficiaries. Participants are expected to develop actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening social protection systems, expanding financing options, and accelerating poverty reduction efforts across the seven North-West states. The dialogue continues with technical sessions, policy reviews, and stakeholder engagements focused on developing practical solutions for improving the welfare and resilience of vulnerable populations across the region.