European Union, Partners Recommit To Vulnerable Families

The European Union (EU) delegation and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the EU-Sokoto Partnership through support for women, children and vulnerable families.

During the visit, the delegation met with governor of Sokoto State. Dr Ahmed Aliyu, who underscored the state’s determination to deliver essential services to communities.

Susan Akila, communication and advocacy specialist, said the mission provided an opportunity for the EU delegation, the state government and partners to observe progress across EU-supported initiatives in schools, primary healthcare facilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and community-based services

Reflecting on the visit, Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, who led the mission, said, “This visit has shown 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 in ensuring inclusive development that leaves no one behind.”

At schools and community sites, the delegation saw how safe learning environments, teacher support, and community engagement are helping children access inclusive education.

Speaking to UNICEF’s role, the UNICEF Deputy Representative Programmes, Rownak Khan, said, “UNICEF’s mandate is to support realising the rights and well-being of every child and to support women, families, and communities who care for and guide them.

In Sokoto, that means strengthening education, primary health care, and adolescent services through an EU-supported programme for health and education and helping families withstand shocks through social protection so that children not only survive but thrive.”

As part of the visit, the government and its partners also presented a new tool to capture all dimensions of poverty into the National Social Register as part of the EU-funded “Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI)” programme.

With $14 million from the EU, SUSI will improve social protection policy and budget, and help create a social registry in Sokoto focused on children and families in need, including those without birth registration or NIN, out-of-school children, families facing malnutrition, and those with limited access to primary health care.