By Lurwanu Idris Malikawa
The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that every child has equal access to quality education, healthcare, protection, and opportunities for growth, regardless of gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
He made the declaration on Saturday, 13 June 2026, while delivering a message on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the 2026 International Children’s Day celebration held at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano. The event was themed “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”
Alhaji Garo said the theme highlights the importance of shaping the nation’s future through the care, protection, education, and opportunities provided to children today.
“Inclusion is not merely a policy objective; it is a fundamental right and a moral responsibility owed to every Nigerian child,” he said.
The Deputy Governor described children as the foundation of sustainable development and the custodians of tomorrow’s leadership. He reiterated the Kano State Government’s resolve to implement policies and programmes that ensure no child is left behind.
According to him, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf continues to invest in education, strengthen child protection mechanisms, improve healthcare services, and create an enabling environment where children can learn, thrive, and realise their full potential.
He also encouraged children to remain diligent in their studies and uphold the values of honesty, respect, and patriotism. He assured them that their voices matter and that their talents are essential to building a Nigeria where every child can fully enjoy their rights and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina S. Abdullahi, HOD, commended the Yusuf administration for expanding access to social protection interventions for vulnerable children and persons with disabilities.
While highlighting the administration’s achievements, the Commissioner appealed to Governor Yusuf to inaugurate the Kano State Child Protection Committee to facilitate the effective implementation of the Child Protection Law.
According to her, the committee would help address challenges such as child begging and the plight of street-connected children, ensuring that every child, regardless of social background, benefits from meaningful interventions.
She also called for support toward the enactment of an Orphanage Bill to strengthen child welfare systems and address issues such as child abuse, child trafficking, and the proliferation of illegal orphanages.
The Commissioner further advised children to embrace continuous learning, dream big, respect their parents, teachers, and elders, and steer clear of drugs, violence, negative peer influence, and other social vices.
Speaking at the event, guest speaker Dr. Sulaiman Isyaku underscored the importance of child nutrition in achieving meaningful inclusion.
“I want you to understand that the food you eat influences how you think. Your thinking shapes your actions, your actions determine your progress, and your progress contributes to the development of your state and nation. Therefore, if Kano State safeguards children’s nutrition, we can confidently say that inclusion has truly been achieved,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Imam Ahmad Zubair, State Chairman of the Association of Private Schools Proprietors, expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government for involving private schools in the commemoration for the first time in the state’s history
