Daily Chronicle
Bauchi, Nigeria – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended Bauchi State for its strong commitment to children’s rights and welfare. The praise came during a courtesy visit by UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs. Wafaa Saeed Abdullatif, to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Mrs. Abdullatif highlighted UNICEF’s mission in Nigeria, which focuses on ensuring every child has a healthy start in life, access to quality education, nutrition, and protection from harm. She lauded Bauchi’s contributions to the Child Nutrition Fund, describing it as a model for other states and countries.
The UNICEF representative also applauded the state’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, emphasizing that access to education is key to addressing early marriage, improving health outcomes, and securing brighter futures for young people.
Governor Bala Mohammed welcomed the visit as a sign of confidence from development partners and highlighted progress made in collaboration with UNICEF since 2019. He cited achievements in immunization, nutrition, maternal and child healthcare, water, sanitation, and education.
The governor revealed that the state government has committed ₦872 million as counterpart funding for the 2025 Primary Healthcare MOU and ₦300 million for nutrition. Additionally, the state has paid its ₦132 million contribution to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
Governor Mohammed outlined further health sector interventions, including the construction of 50 new Primary Healthcare Centres, rehabilitation of three general hospitals, and recruitment of 1,600 health workers and 100 doctors. He also noted challenges in education, including poverty, cultural norms, and child labour, which hinder enrollment and retention. The governor appealed for stronger community involvement to address these barriers.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to strengthen ties with UNICEF, describing the agency as a critical partner in aligning Bauchi with international standards in health, education, and social services.