By Hussaini Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing multidimensional poverty through strengthened social protection programmes and innovative financing mechanisms aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable residents.
The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, stated this on Tuesday while representing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue on Reducing Multidimensional Poverty through Scaled Social Protection Systems and Innovative Financing.
The dialogue, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the European Union, brought together governors and representatives of North-West states, development partners, policymakers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and academics to discuss strategies for addressing poverty and vulnerability across the region.
Speaking at the event, Garo described multidimensional poverty as one of the most pressing challenges facing the North-West, saying millions of people continue to grapple with limited access to education, healthcare, nutrition, social services and economic opportunities.
According to him, meaningful poverty reduction requires deliberate political commitment, strategic investments and effective social protection systems capable of reaching the most vulnerable segments of society.
“Multidimensional poverty remains one of the greatest challenges confronting our region. It affects millions of people through inadequate access to quality education, healthcare services, nutrition and economic opportunities,” Garo said.
“To address this challenge, governments must demonstrate strong political will, invest in human capital development and strengthen social protection systems that can effectively support vulnerable populations.”
The deputy governor said the administration of Governor Yusuf had continued to prioritise programmes aimed at improving access to education, healthcare, youth empowerment, women’s economic inclusion and community development.
He noted that the state’s poverty reduction strategy was focused on creating economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of citizens.
“Our administration remains committed to policies that promote social inclusion, economic resilience and sustainable development. We recognise that poverty reduction cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector,” he added.
Garo commended UNICEF and the European Union for supporting initiatives designed to strengthen social protection systems and improve the welfare of vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
He said development partners had continued to play a critical role in supporting efforts to tackle poverty and social exclusion.
The participants at the dialogue emphasised the need to strengthen social safety nets, improve data-driven decision-making, expand social registers and mobilise innovative sources of financing to support poverty reduction initiatives.
They also stressed the importance of regional collaboration in addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring that development interventions reach underserved communities.
Garo assured stakeholders of Kano State’s readiness to continue working with national and international partners to implement policies that reduce vulnerability and create opportunities for shared prosperity.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Kano State, I appreciate UNICEF, the European Union and all development partners for their continued commitment to promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development across the North-West.
“We remain committed to working together to advance policies and programmes that strengthen social protection, reduce poverty and improve the living standards of our people,” he said.
The dialogue ended with participants renewing their commitment to strengthening cooperation and accelerating efforts aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty across the North-West region.
