Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has said the partnership between his administration, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is set to deliver substantial benefits, with more than 16,000 women and youths across 10 local government areas benefiting from entrepreneurship and economic empowerment initiatives.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Auwal Mohammed Jatau, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of women and children, noting that the collaboration had already contributed to a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by a joint delegation from GAC and UNICEF to the Government House in Bauchi, Mohammed said the intervention had made a significant impact on agricultural value chains, the business environment, and the savings culture among women and young people.
Beneficiaries drawn from local government areas, including Bauchi, Dass, Katagum, and Warji, have been trained in small-scale enterprises and entrepreneurship, thereby strengthening their economic prospects and resilience.
“The livelihood and nutritional empowerment project has provided technical support to improve livelihoods, targeting a population of 10,000 people, 60 per cent of whom are women and rural farming households, through increased farm productivity, enhanced market access, and improved nutrition for vulnerable groups,” he said.
The governor also highlighted the Bauchi Opportunities for Responsive Neonatal and Maternal Health Engendered Transformation project, which he said had improved healthcare delivery by making services more accessible and affordable for vulnerable women and newborns.
“Your support has complemented our efforts to reduce maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality in the state,” he told the delegation, adding that the government had made substantial investments in the health sector.
According to him, the state released more than ₦872 million last year to support the primary healthcare memorandum of understanding, ₦300 million to UNICEF as a child nutrition matching grant, and ₦50 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for family planning commodities, among other interventions.
The visit by the development partners was described as a reflection of the mutual trust established between the state government and international agencies, with a shared objective of advancing the welfare of women and children in Bauchi State.
