The UNICEF has tasked state governments to take leadership and ownership of its various interventions for the well-being of children.
Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, made the call on Tuesday at the 2025 review meetings in Yola.
“Looking at the horizon of financing globally coming to the different countries, my request is that governments should take more leadership and ownership”, she said.
Rafique said the meeting remained UNICEF’s standard procedure to review the whole annual work plan at the end of the year with the counterparts.
“So this process enables us to plan better for 2026 and have more innovative approaches to achieve more results and reach the hardest to reach areas and the last child.
“The state governments are the leaders leading the whole implementation in all sectors.”
She said UNICEF will continue to ensure that ownership and the leadership remains in the hands of the state governments, particularly in areas like health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection, and social policy.
According to Rafique, wherever support is needed for data analysis and reports, UNICEF provides technical support to states.
Dr Tukura Nyigwa, Executive Secretary, Taraba Primary Healthcare Development Agency, appreciated UNICEF intervention and assured continued collaboration towards ensuring children receive better treatment.
“For us in Taraba, UNICEF has engaged all the stakeholders to impact the children’s life in the areas of immunisation, nutrition, child protection, education, among others.
“So UNICEF is at the forefront in these key areas and others that I didn’t mention”, he said.
Dr Garba Pella, Adamawa Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, also acknowledged the contribution of UNICEF as regards children’s well-being in the state.
He said the government and all partners are working together to ensure that no child is left behind.
“That is why the government introduced free healthcare for children in public facilities, free education and comfort for every child among others”, he said.
Pella further described the UNICEF template for collaboration as excellent and urged other NGOs to take a cue.
