UNICEF has commended the Kebbi government for approving ₦761 million as counterpart funds to strengthen child nutrition and other social services.

The UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed-Abdelatef, gave the commendation on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi during a courtesy visit to Deputy Governor Abubakar Umar-Tafida.

She said the fund would help tackle malnutrition, improve immunisation, and provide clean water, education, and other essential services for children in the state.

“We want to start by giving children the best in life. They need good nutrition, safe and clean drinking water, education, and proper healthcare, including immunisation, to enable them to grow, learn, and become productive members of society.

“We are very much encouraged by the leadership of Kebbi, especially in supporting communities affected by floods, insecurity, and other shocks. By approving N761 million for nutrition supplies, the state has shown commitment to addressing malnutrition among children,” Ms Saeed-Abdelatef said.

She disclosed that UNICEF had established a Child Nutrition Fund through which it matched counterpart contributions from states on a one-to-one basis.

“This means that whatever Kebbi contributes will be doubled by UNICEF, thereby making more supplies available for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition,” she said.

The UNICEF representative also lauded the state for expanding access to healthcare through its social insurance scheme.

“This scheme has currently benefited more than 10,000 vulnerable persons in the state,” she said.

Ms Saeed-Abdelatef described education and health as areas where the state had demonstrated strong commitment and vision, adding that UNICEF would continue to partner with the state to set up models that would strengthen development goals.

“The efforts of Kebbi State have reached global recognition, and we look forward to working closely with the government to ensure that every child is fully immunised against killer diseases,” she said.

Responding, Mr Umar-Tafida assured UNICEF of the state government’s continued collaboration with development partners to strengthen education, health, nutrition, and social welfare programmes.

He expressed Governor Nasir Idris’ administration’s commitment to prioritising the health and education sectors to address critical gaps and ensure better opportunities for children and the most vulnerable in society.

“The present administration is committed to giving our children the best foundation in life through quality healthcare, nutrition, and education. We deeply appreciate UNICEF’s support and assure you that Kebbi will remain a willing partner in driving these initiatives,” the deputy governor said.

(NAN)