Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto top states with dimensionally poor children – UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sokoto Field Office, has listed Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara as states with a high proportion of dimensionally poor children in Nigeria. 

Isa Ibrahim, a Social Policy Specialist from UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, disclosed this yesterday during a workshop in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, sponsored by the Sokoto State Government to enhance the analysis of child poverty measurement.

Ibrahim stated that these three states have significant percentages of children living in poverty, with Kebbi at 88 per cent, Zamfara at 82 per cent, and Sokoto at 80 per cent. 

He attributed these high rates of poverty to factors such as limited access to essential services like nutrition, education, and immunisation. 

He highlighted that a substantial number of children in Sokoto and Kebbi, about 89%, are not fully immunised.

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He said the workshop aims to increase awareness among government partners about the need for quality data generation, monitoring, and analysis of children through state routine data systems. 

Safiyanu Garba Bena, Kebbi State’s Head of Service, noted the collaborative efforts between the state and UNICEF in developing the state development plan, conducting a situation analysis of children, and formulating a social protection policy to address vulnerabilities and shocks.