Headlines
Kano intensifies campaign for exclusive breastfeeding as UNICEF urges six-month maternity leave
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has intensified its campaign to promote exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as one of the most effective strategies for combating child malnutrition and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
KANO FOCUS reports that the State Nutrition Officer, Aishatu Suleiman, stated this on Thursday during a road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week. The awareness campaign began at the School of Hygiene and ended at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, attracting health workers, development partners, civil society organisations and government officials.
Ms Suleiman said the campaign was aimed at increasing public awareness of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months and encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding until children are two years old.
She said breast milk contains all the nutrients required for a baby’s growth and development while providing protection against common childhood illnesses.
“Exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective interventions for addressing malnutrition, which continues to be a major public health challenge in Kano State,” she said.
“We are here to support, protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months and encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding up to two years. Breast milk provides all the nutritional requirements a baby needs and strengthens immunity.”
She explained that although World Breastfeeding Week is observed globally for seven days, Kano State has scheduled a three-day programme of advocacy and public enlightenment to engage communities on the importance of optimal breastfeeding practices.
UNICEF seeks stronger support for mothers
The Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, described breastfeeding as “the most sustainable food on earth” and called for stronger government policies to enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children.
Shafeeq Ur-Rehman
Speaking during the event, Mr Ur-Rehman said this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need to invest in proven interventions that improve child survival and development.
He noted that breast milk serves as a child’s first vaccine against illness, malnutrition and preventable deaths, while also contributing to improved cognitive development and future productivity.
“The evidence is overwhelming. Scaling up breastfeeding could prevent hundreds of thousands of maternal and child deaths each year,” he said.
Mr Ur-Rehman, however, expressed concern over Nigeria’s low rates of optimal breastfeeding despite widespread acceptance of the practice.
According to him, while more than 90 per cent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed their children, fewer than one in ten newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, and only about one in ten infants are exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life.
He stressed that breastfeeding should not be viewed solely as a mother’s responsibility but as a shared obligation involving governments, healthcare providers, families, workplaces and communities.
The UNICEF official urged states that have yet to adopt six months of paid maternity leave, including Kano, Jigawa and Katsina, to implement the policy.
He said longer maternity leave, flexible working hours, breastfeeding breaks, private lactation spaces and facilities for storing expressed breast milk would enable more mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding.
Partners advocate policy reforms
Also speaking, Salmanu Muhammad, the Kano State Coordinator of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), said the coalition has continued to complement government efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition through advocacy and community mobilisation.
He said CS-SUNN consistently engages government authorities, conducts public awareness campaigns and sensitises communities on the importance of optimal breastfeeding practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
Muhammad added that the organisation also advocates the adoption and implementation of six months’ paid maternity leave to enable working mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants in line with global recommendations.
Also speaking, Shetima Kyari, representing the Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Jhpiego), said the organisation has been supporting Kano State’s maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition programmes since last year.
He said Jhpiego works with secondary healthcare facilities across the state to promote early initiation of breastfeeding immediately after birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding beyond two years.
Mr Kyari identified cultural myths and misconceptions as major barriers preventing many mothers from practising optimal breastfeeding.
Chairperson of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Saadeq Suleiman, said the organisation supports governments through capacity building for healthcare workers, technical advisory services and policy development to improve maternal and child nutrition.
He said strengthening healthcare workers’ capacity and implementing evidence-based nutrition policies would increase breastfeeding rates and reduce child malnutrition.
Representing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Halima Katagum said the agency regulates the marketing of breast milk substitutes to prevent practices that discourage exclusive breastfeeding.
She explained that NAFDAC prohibits the promotion of infant formula through advertisements, branded gifts and other marketing activities targeting mothers.
“Our role is to regulate the marketing of breast milk substitutes so that mothers are encouraged to practise exclusive breastfeeding instead of relying on formula products,” she said.
KANO FOCUS reports that participants at the event called for sustained public awareness campaigns, stronger family and community support, and greater government investment in maternal and child nutrition to improve breastfeeding practices and child survival in Kano State.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.
KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.
The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.
Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.
He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.
The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.
Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.
The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.
Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.
He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”
The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.
According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.
It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.
The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.
Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.
It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.
The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.
According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.
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