By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commenced a two-day state-level consultation in Kaduna to develop its 2028–2032 Country Programme, bringing together government officials, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to identify evidence-based priorities for improving children’s lives.

The consultation, themed “From Evidence to Priority,” is focused on validating available data and identifying the most pressing challenges affecting children in Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kwara states, which are covered by UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office.

Speaking at the opening on Wednesday, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, said the exercise marks the first stage in designing UNICEF’s next five-year programme for Nigeria, stressing that it would be guided by evidence and the collective input of stakeholders.

According to her, the four states have a combined population of about 23 million people, including more than seven million children between the ages of zero and 17 years, representing over 30 per cent of the population.

She noted that participants were playing a critical role in determining the priorities that would shape UNICEF’s interventions between 2028 and 2032.

“The consultation is about validating evidence, identifying priorities and ensuring that future interventions respond to the realities facing children in our states,” she said.

Birukila explained that the evidence generated would inform programme design, resource allocation, staffing requirements and future investments aimed at improving child wellbeing.

She identified child malnutrition, newborn mortality and the growing number of zero-dose children—those who have never received routine vaccines—as urgent issues requiring sustained attention.

Other critical concerns, she said, include the large number of out-of-school children, low birth registration rates, multidimensional poverty, and increasing vulnerability to climate change and disasters.

She observed that insecurity, climate-related shocks and environmental disasters continue to disrupt education and expose children to greater risks, urging stakeholders to adopt innovative approaches, including technology-driven and community-based learning solutions, to ensure education continues during emergencies.

Birukila warned that prolonged school closures significantly reduce the likelihood of vulnerable and displaced children returning to school.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed, described the consultation as timely, saying it provides an opportunity to assess progress and redefine development priorities for children.

He commended UNICEF for its longstanding partnership with Kaduna State in advancing programmes on health, nutrition, education, child protection, water, sanitation, hygiene and social policy.

Ahmed reaffirmed the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to evidence-based planning, strong partnerships and sustainable development outcomes, urging participants to contribute practical ideas and technical expertise that reflect the realities of communities and the needs of children.

The consultation is being held simultaneously across UNICEF field offices in Nigeria as part of preparations for the organisation’s next Country Programme.

In Kaduna, participants include representatives from the education, health, information and women affairs sectors, civil society organisations and various ministries, departments and agencies within the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office’s operational states.