The Sokoto State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have strengthened their partnership on child health with a combined N200 million intervention aimed at tackling severe malnutrition, as officials warned against the diversion of critical supplies.
At the formal handover of nutrition commodities in Sokoto on Sunday, April 19, 2026, UNICEF’s Deputy Country Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, commended the state for committing N100 million to the Child Nutrition Fund—an amount matched by UNICEF under its co-financing model.
“Not all states have allocated funds for this matching grant. Sokoto has shown leadership and commitment to improving the survival, growth, and development of its most vulnerable children,” she said.
Khan highlighted alarming statistics, noting that more than 260,000 children in the state are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while many others remain unvaccinated. She stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to child health, combining nutrition, immunisation, and maternal care.
She also disclosed that fresh data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, would provide a new baseline for tracking progress in the coming months.
Emphasising accountability, Khan praised Sokoto for achieving “100 per cent reconciliation” of nutrition commodities from central stores to local government levels—an uncommon feat among participating states.
Also speaking, the Head of UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma, said the intervention would expand access to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and other essential supplies.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise preventive nutrition and dietary diversity, warning that rising malnutrition rates could negatively impact education outcomes if not addressed early.
“We must ensure these commodities are used strictly for children in need. Accountability is critical,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Faruk, described the initiative as a reflection of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s commitment to addressing hunger and reducing child mortality.
He revealed that recent surveys indicate that up to 85 per cent of children in the state are affected by malnutrition, with 73 per cent of households facing related challenges. Faruk warned that the era of unchecked handling of nutrition supplies was over.
“This time, there will be no diversion. We have established a multi-level accountability framework involving local government chairmen, health directors, and community stakeholders to ensure transparent distribution,” he said.
According to him, only verified beneficiaries—malnourished children and vulnerable pregnant women—will receive the supplies, with strict monitoring mechanisms extending to primary healthcare facilities.
The Child Nutrition Fund, supported by global partners including the Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), operates a matching model designed to scale up domestic investment while ensuring shared accountability.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that Sokoto could emerge as a model for effective utilisation of nutrition funding if the current commitments are sustained.
