By Lurwanu Idris Malikawa
The Kano State Government has called for stronger regional collaboration among North-West states to address multidimensional poverty through scaled social protection systems and innovative financing mechanisms.
Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, who represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, made the call on Wednesday at the North-West Governors’ Forum Policy Dialogue on Reducing Multidimensional Poverty Through Scaled Social Protection Systems and Innovative Financing held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
Garo described poverty as a major challenge affecting critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, housing and security across the region.
He said despite the North-West’s huge population and abundant natural resources, multidimensional poverty continues to impede development.
According to him, the dialogue, organised in collaboration with the European Union, UNICEF and the Office of the Vice President, was aimed at finding lasting solutions to the region’s development challenges.
He stressed that the shared cultural, religious and traditional values among the North-West states make regional cooperation necessary.
“In this region, we are like siblings from the same parent. There is a need for dialogue among policymakers, academicians and traditional leaders to address poverty,” he said.
The deputy governor noted that effective interventions would improve healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, youth empowerment, security and access to education, particularly for the girl-child.
He highlighted Kano State’s increased investment in health and education under Governor Yusuf, saying the administration had made significant budgetary allocations to both sectors.
Garo added that the government was implementing programmes focused on maternal and child healthcare, nutrition support, poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, Almajiri rehabilitation and girl-child education, while also strengthening agriculture and security.
Speaking on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said social protection remained central to national development and should evolve into a sustainable system capable of shielding vulnerable citizens from economic shocks.
He emphasised the need for credible social registers, transparent payment systems and strong financing frameworks, noting that poverty reduction requires coordinated planning, sustained investment and measurable outcomes.
Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in a presentation titled “Building the North-West from Within: People, Potential, and the Path Forward,” called for the development of social policy investment frameworks in all states, with dedicated budgetary provisions for targeted interventions across different stages of life.
He advocated a minimum social package guaranteeing essential services at every stage of life, alongside increased investment in early childhood development, skills acquisition, adult literacy and job creation.
The monarch further stressed the need for closer collaboration with traditional institutions to integrate local knowledge into programme implementation.
“We must tell ourselves the truth and show intellectual sincerity in confronting the data, celebrating progress while refusing to substitute announcements for action,” he said.
Sanusi added that states demonstrating genuine leadership in social investment would attract greater support from the federal government and development partners.
He urged the region to publish and compare its development outcomes to identify gaps and strengthen accountability.
The event featured goodwill messages from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes, representatives of federal ministries, UNICEF, the European Union, the Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum and representatives of the governors of Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto states.
Participants unanimously called for stronger commitment to translating shared concerns into coordinated and implementable actions aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty across the region.
