The Sokoto State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have renewed their partnership to eradicate polio in Northwest Nigeria, pledging intensified vaccination campaigns, stronger community engagement, and improved surveillance to protect every child from the crippling disease.
Marking the 2025 World Polio Day, officials, health partners, and traditional leaders reaffirmed that collaboration remains key to sustaining Nigeria’s victory over polio.
Sokoto’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Farouk Abubakar Wurno said the state, working with UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International, and other partners, has achieved over 90 percent vaccination coverage in recent rounds across high-risk areas. “We are determined to sustain this momentum until we reach every child,” he added.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Chief of Party, Michael Juma, emphasized the importance of partnership and commitment across all sectors to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. He said the just-concluded integrated measles-rubella and polio campaign achieved an impressive 120 percent coverage across the state, translating to about 5.3 million children vaccinated through strong collaboration among government agencies, community leaders, and civil society organizations.
Juma noted that effective surveillance remains critical to eradication efforts, revealing that 86 percent of previously non-compliant households had been reached. However, about 3,000 households across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states remain unvaccinated.
“That’s the challenge we face right now — how to reach the remaining 3,000 households,” he said. “It requires effort from everyone — the media, community volunteers, and local leaders — to strengthen social mobilization and ensure every child receives the vaccine.”
He explained that UNICEF is supporting the state governments through advocacy, social mobilization, and capacity-building for Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCMs) who live and work within the communities and are trusted by the people.
According to him, UNICEF will continue to provide technical assistance, promote community engagement, and seek stronger political commitment from state authorities to close the immunization gaps.
Juma called on the media to collaborate closely with the Ministries of Health and Information, UNICEF, and other partners to drive accurate and timely information that encourages parents to bring their children forward for vaccination.
“We can achieve much more if we work together,” he said. “By uniting our efforts, we can make history by eradicating polio from Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.”
He added that activities marking World Polio Day in Sokoto included a youth advocacy football match aimed at raising awareness and celebrating polio survivors, whose stories underscore the urgency of vaccination.
Represented, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, also called for sustained advocacy to counter misinformation about vaccines, describing polio eradication as a shared moral responsibility.
Health experts linked the polio drive to broader efforts to safeguard vulnerable children, including those in the Almajiri education system, ensuring access to both healthcare and education.
Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, but vaccine-derived strains remain a concern. With Sokoto’s renewed collaboration with UNICEF and partners, the state is strengthening its frontline role in ensuring that no child is left unprotected.
