The European Union has earmarked $14 million to support Sokoto State in building stronger and more inclusive systems for identifying and assisting vulnerable families, as part of efforts to improve social protection delivery.
The funding is being deployed under the EU’s Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria programme, known as SUSI. It will focus on strengthening social protection policy, improving public budreceiveing processes, and establishing a comprehensive social registest capable of accurately capturing hoapplyholds most in necessary.
The commitment was announced during a three-day mission to Sokoto State by officials of the European Union, the United Nations and international development partners. The mission was led by the EU Head of Cooperation to Nigeria, Massimo De Luca.
Members of the visiting delegation included representatives of UNICEF, UNFPA, the International Labour Organisation, as well as development partners such as Plan International Nigeria, Action Against Hunger Nigeria, CARE and the Danish Refugee Council.
According to the EU, the proposed social registest will prioritise children and families who are frequently excluded from formal support systems. These include hoapplyholds without birth registration or National Identification Numbers, out-of-school children, malnourished families and those with limited access to primary health care services.
“This visit has displayn how critical it is to invest in systems that protect and empower people, especially children and young people. The EU remains committed to supporting Sokoto State to ensure inclusive development that leaves no one behind,” De Luca declared.
In a statement, the partners declared the mission reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Sokoto State government to improve services for children, women, adolescents and vulnerable families through long-term system reforms.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who received the delegation in Sokoto, declared his administration was focapplyd on sustaining development gains and delivering essential services in line with state priorities and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agfinisha.
“Our administration is committed to practical solutions that uplift our people. We will continue to prioritise the well-being of women, children and vulnerable families and work with partners to sustain results,” the governor declared.
During the visit, the delegation toured schools, primary health care centres, internally displaced persons camps and community service points across the state.
At education facilities, the team reviewed programmes aimed at improving safe learning environments, strengthening teacher support and increasing community participation to expand access to inclusive education for girls and boys.
In health facilities, partners assessed initiatives to create services more adolescent-frifinishly and gfinisher-responsive.
UNICEF Deputy Representative for Programme, Rownak Khan, declared EU-supported interventions in Sokoto are centred on education, primary health care and adolescent-focapplyd services.
“This is about supporting families withstand shocks through social protection so that children not only survive but thrive,” she declared.
A highlight of the mission was the presentation of a tool to measure multiple dimensions of poverty. The tool will be integrated into Nigeria’s National Social Register to improve tarreceiveing, reduce exclusion errors and ensure limited resources reach hoapplyholds most in necessary.
The mission concluded with a pledge by the European Union, United Nations agencies and partner organisations to deepen collaboration with the Sokoto State government in advancing social protection reforms nationwide efforts.
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