From Muhammad Gazali Garba
Governor Ahmad Aliyu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Nutrition International in efforts to reduce malnutrition and strengthen healthcare delivery for women, children, and vulnerable groups in Sokoto State.
The governor made the pledge on Monday while receiving the Country Director of Nutrition International, Dr. Osita Okonkwo, during a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto.
Aliyu said his administration had invested over ₦100 million in child health initiatives and would continue to scale up interventions aimed at improving health outcomes across the state.
He disclosed that the state government had introduced a policy mandating rural postings for health personnel, backed by a 10 per cent monthly salary incentive to encourage service in underserved communities.
Under the arrangement, over 1,500 nurses and midwives have been employed and deployed to rural areas, while 2,400 community health workers have also been engaged to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the state.
“Human capital development remains central to this administration’s agenda,” the governor said.
He assured development partners of transparency, accountability, and efficient utilization of health resources, while calling for stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, eliminate gender-based violence, and protect the rights of women and children.
Governor Aliyu also commended the Federal Government and development partners for their continued support to Nigeria’s health sector.
He further reiterated that his administration would continue to prioritise preventive healthcare and nutrition-sensitive interventions as a long-term strategy for breaking the cycle of poverty and disease.
According to him, strengthening primary healthcare systems and expanding community-based nutrition programmes remain central to achieving universal health coverage in the state.
He added that the government would continue to align its health policies with global best practices and Sustainable Development Goals targets to ensure that no community is left behind.
In his remarks, Dr. Osita Okonkwo commended the Sokoto State Government for its increased investment in health and the establishment of an accountability framework for nutrition commodities.
He said Nutrition International has partnered with Sokoto State since 2007, supplying about 2.1 million Vitamin A capsules annually to children under five during Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks. He noted that the intervention, valued at over ₦100 million yearly, has contributed significantly to reducing child morbidity and mortality.
Dr. Okonkwo further disclosed that between 2022 and 2025, the organization supplied 126,000 Zinc and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) co-packs to the state, while an additional 45,000 co-packs had recently been procured and delivered to the State Medical Store for distribution.
He attributed the sustained support to funding from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and GiveWell philanthropy, and called for increased domestic investment in nutrition alongside stronger gcross-sector collaboration to address the multiple causes of malnutrition.
Dr. Okonkwo reaffirmed Nutrition International’s commitment to providing technical support and evidence-based interventions, expressing confidence that the partnership would continue to strengthen healthcare delivery in Sokoto State.
