The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Sokoto State Government to provide domestic funding to facilitate the enrolment of 3,040 communities into the National Social Register.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Dr Michael Juma, made the call on Thursday during a two-day capacity-building training for members of the newly established Sokoto State Social Protection Steering Committee in Birnin Kebbi.
The meeting, supported by the European Union (EU) and UNICEF, brought together representatives of social sector departments, including commissioners and permanent secretaries.
Juma, who was represented by UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Isah Ibrahim, described the meeting as critical to expanding access to social protection programmes for poor and vulnerable households across the state.
He said the initiative would enable vulnerable households to access social protection programmes provided by the Federal Government, state government and development partners, thereby supporting efforts to reduce poverty.
Juma said the training was part of efforts to strengthen social protection strategies and address child poverty among vulnerable households and communities in Sokoto.
He commended the state government for reviewing, approving and implementing its revised social protection policy, describing the development as a significant step forward.
The UNICEF official also acknowledged the progress recorded since the policy was initially approved in 2022, as well as its impact on vulnerable households and communities.
He praised the EU for its investment through the Sustainable Social Protection Investment project, which supported the refinement of the policy and expansion of the social register.
“This crucial step will open avenues for poor and vulnerable households to access essential social protection programmes from federal, state, and development partners, ultimately supporting their journey out of poverty,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Bashir Achida, said the committee was committed to presenting the revised State Social Protection Draft Policy to the State Executive Council under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
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Achida said the presentation would pave the way for further implementation of the revised social protection framework.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning was committed to establishing a dedicated social protection department in line with the revised draft policy.
The commissioner also sought further support from UNICEF and the EU for capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening shock-responsive social protection and livelihood initiatives.
He said the committee also required UNICEF’s assistance in developing a costed implementation plan to identify the resources needed to tackle poverty among vulnerable households.
Achida said the initiatives aligned with the state’s nine-point Smart Development Agenda, while acknowledging the EU’s support for expanding the social register and improving access to social protection programmes for more vulnerable households.
