A delegation from the European Union (EU), the United Nations and key development partners has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Sokoto State Government to improve services for children, women, adolescents and vulnerable families.
The delegation, comprising officials from the EU Delegation in Abuja, UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO and partner organisations including Plan International Nigeria, Action Against Hunger (ACF Nigeria), CARE and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), concluded a mission to Sokoto State to review progress across EU-supported programmes.
During a courtesy visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the governor reiterated his administration’s resolve to deliver essential services and sustain development gains.
“Our administration is committed to practical solutions that uplift our people—consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda and our state priorities,” Aliyu said. “We will continue to prioritise the well-being of women, children and vulnerable families and work with partners to sustain results.”
The mission assessed interventions in schools, primary health care centres, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and community-based services.
Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, Massimo De Luca, said the visit underscored the importance of investing in strong social systems.
“This visit has shown how critical it is to invest in systems that protect and empower people, especially children and young people,” he said. “The EU remains committed to supporting Sokoto State to ensure inclusive development that leaves no one behind.”
At schools and community sites, the delegation observed efforts to improve safe learning environments, teacher support and community engagement to expand access to inclusive education.
UNICEF Deputy Representative (Programme), Rownak Khan, said UNICEF’s focus in Sokoto remains on strengthening education, primary health care and adolescent services through EU-supported programmes.
“This is about helping families withstand shocks through social protection so that children not only survive but thrive,” Khan said.
A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of a new tool to capture multiple dimensions of poverty into the National Social Register under the EU-funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) programme.
With $14 million in EU funding, SUSI aims to strengthen social protection policy, improve budgeting and establish a comprehensive social registry in Sokoto targeting children and families in need, including those without birth registration or National Identification Numbers, out-of-school children, malnourished families and households with limited access to primary health care.
The ILO Country Director said sustainable social protection depends on strong institutions and coordinated financing, adding that an interoperable social registry would improve targeting and service delivery.
At primary health facilities, the delegation reviewed initiatives to make services more adolescent-friendly and gender-responsive.
UNFPA Nigeria’s Resident Representative said women and adolescents must have access to quality and respectful care close to home, praising frontline health workers for their dedication.
Development partners also stressed the role of communities in sustaining progress.
CARE Nigeria’s Country Director said strengthening local leadership and accountability was key to ensuring services reach those most in need, while Plan International Nigeria emphasised the importance of safe and supportive learning environments for girls and boys.
For displacement-affected communities, DRC said coordinated, community-driven responses were essential for resilience and recovery, while ACF Nigeria highlighted the need to address hunger and malnutrition amid conflict, climate change and natural disasters.
The mission ended with a renewed joint commitment to support Sokoto State’s social and economic development agenda through strengthened partnerships and system-wide reforms.
