Nura Abdullahi

The Kano State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and Family Planning (FP) services through improved primary healthcare delivery, recruitment of health workers, and community-based interventions across the state.

KKANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, disclosed this during a media parley on MNCH and Family Planning organised by the Kano State Led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) with support from Pathfinder International in Kano.

Dr Yusuf said the state government was implementing strategic programmes aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality, improving access to reproductive healthcare, and strengthening family planning services, particularly in underserved communities.

According to him, maternal, neonatal, and postnatal healthcare remain key priorities of the ministry because of their critical role in safeguarding the lives of women and children.

He explained that the government had continued to strengthen primary healthcare facilities across the state to ensure timely medical interventions for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.

“One of the major things we are doing is strengthening activities within primary healthcare facilities so they can better handle emergencies and provide timely interventions,” he said.

The commissioner noted that many complications affecting women and newborns arise because some patients delay seeking medical attention, especially during prolonged labour.

He said the government was addressing the challenge through improved emergency response systems, training of healthcare workers, and increased availability of essential medications and maternal healthcare services at health facilities.

Yusuf further disclosed that arrangements were underway to recruit additional health workers to improve the delivery of maternal, newborn, child health, and family planning services across communities.

He added that healthcare workers and facility managers were also undergoing training to improve patient care, communication, and management of maternal and child health cases.

According to him, several local healthcare facilities are currently being upgraded and equipped to provide safer and more effective healthcare services at the grassroots level.

The commissioner revealed that the state government had visited about 300 clinics as part of monitoring, assessment, and intervention programmes aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare services across Kano State.

He stressed the importance of family planning in improving maternal and child health outcomes, noting that increased awareness and access to reproductive health services would help families make informed healthcare decisions.

Yusuf also highlighted the role of the media and community participation in promoting positive healthcare practices and improving public understanding of maternal health and family planning programmes.

“The media has an important role to play in helping to improve public understanding and strengthening community response to healthcare programmes,” he said.

He assured that the state government would continue collaborating with development partners, civil society organisations, and communities to strengthen maternal health and family planning services across the state.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project and other development partners in advancing education in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the assurance while receiving the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, during a courtesy visit at the Government House in Kano.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, Governor Yusuf said his administration would continue to collaborate with stakeholders and support initiatives aimed at improving education in Kano State.

“We will continue to collaborate and support every effort geared towards the development of education in Kano State,” the governor said.

He described the AGILE project as a beacon of hope that is strengthening the education sector through infrastructural development and support for teachers.

Earlier, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad informed the governor that Kano State had successfully secured the World Bank’s “No Objection” approval for the construction of 49 new schools under the AGILE project at a cost of ₦23 billion.

The minister disclosed that contractors handling the projects had already been mobilised to site, adding that the initiative would significantly expand access to education for underserved communities across the state.

She also commended the Kano State Government for the quality of projects being executed in schools, particularly those she inspected during her visit, and urged the AGILE project team to emulate the state government’s standards in project implementation.

The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving access to secondary education and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls across Nigeria.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, has commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, describing the intervention as a major boost to girl-child education in Nigeria.

KANO FOCUS reports that Professor Suwaiba made the remarks during an inspection visit to selected AGILE project sites in Kano State, including Government Girls College, Kano, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSS), Dukawuya.

She said the Tinubu administration remained committed to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving the standard of education and expanding access to quality learning opportunities for adolescent girls across the country.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of projects being executed under the World Bank-supported AGILE programme in Kano State, noting that the initiative would significantly improve educational infrastructure and learning outcomes.

While praising the standard of work at the project sites, she directed Principal and SBMC handling some of the projects to make necessary corrections where required in order to ensure durable and high-quality infrastructure.

Speaking during the visit, the National Coordinator of the AGILE Project, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna, highlighted recent achievements recorded under the programme.

According to her, the World Bank-supported project is focused on improving access to education for adolescent girls through infrastructure development and empowerment initiatives.

On his part, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda, said the state government had continued to prioritise education through increased budgetary allocation and ongoing investments in the sector.

Makoda disclosed that since the declaration of a state of emergency on education in 2023, the sector has consistently received more than 30 per cent of the state’s annual budget.

He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for sustaining investments aimed at improving learning environments and educational outcomes across the state.

The commissioner also appreciated the minister for visiting Kano State to inspect the ongoing AGILE projects and for her continued support toward the advancement of education in the state.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu, disclosed that about 300 schools across Kano State would be renovated under the AGILE project.

He added that the state government also plans to construct 49 new girls’ schools across the 484 wards in Kano as part of efforts to strengthen access to education for girls.

Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and Hajiya Amina Buba

As part of the visit, the Minister, accompanied by the National Project Coordinator of AGILE, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna; the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gwani Ali Abubakar Makoda; the Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu; and the Head of the Project Financial Management Unit (HPFMU), Alhaji Aliyu Lawan, also met with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to discuss the progress of the AGILE project in Kano State.

The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative designed to improve secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls through enhanced infrastructure, increased access, and empowerment programmes.