Bauchi Gov: Over 16,000 Women, Youths Benefit From GAC, UNICEF Entrepreneurship, Empowerment Interventions

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi 

Governor Bala Abdukadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has disclosed that the partnership collaboration between Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the state government has resulted in the over 16,000 Women and Youths in the state benefitting from entrepreneurship and economic empowerment interventions in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Governor Bala Mohammed who made the disclosure yesterday while receiving a delegation of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and UNICEF during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Bauchi, gave the benefitting local governments areas to include Bauchi, Dass, Katagum, Warji, Toro, Ganjuwa and Jama’are, stated beneficiaries were exposed to small scale businesses and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the state deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Auwal Mohammed Jatau, he expressed delight the project has enhanced performance in agricultural value chains, improved business environment, and developed saving culture for women and youths, while strengthening dialogue in communities and families about risks surrounding early and forced marriages.

According to him, “The livelihood and nutritional empowerment project that has provided technical support towards improved livelihood targeting a population of 10, 000 which is 60 percent women and rural farmer households through increased farm productivity, enhanced market access, and better nutrition for the vulnerable”.

The governor said the project has also provided sustainable and pre-disposed households, and enhanced enabling environment for agricultural businesses development, and promoted the development of village savings and loans association, business incubation centres and gender action learning system.

In addition, he said the Bauchi opportunities for responsive neo-natal and maternal health engendered transformative project has through its support in the development of the healthcare system contributed to the reduction of maternal and neo-natal mortality among the most vulnerable women and new Borns in the state by improving the quality, availability, affordability, utilization and accountability of essentially maternal and neo-natal services.

He described the visit by the Global Affairs Canada delegation as another testament of the trust that development partners have built on the state government based on the commitment in improving the lives of women and children.

He told the delegation, “Your support has complemented our efforts towards reducing both maternal childhood morbidity and mortality in the state”, stressing that Bauchi remained committed to the Abuja Declaration by allocating not less than 15 percent of the state annual budget to the health sector.

He therefore reiterated the state government’s commitment to fulfilling all its obligations including the payment of counterpart funds under the Primary Healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), contributions and other non-MoU in counterpart funds.

The governor recalled, “Last year alone, we released over 872 million naira as state into the primary healthcare memorandum of understanding in basket fund account operated by Bauchi primary healthcare development board, Bill Gates Foundation Aliko Dangote Foundation, UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada”.

“Similarly, the sum of 300 million was released to UNICEF as child nutrition marching grant, as plans are afoot to release N500m this year. Furthermore, we have released the sum of N50m to UNPFA for the procurement of family planning commodities”.

According to him, this is in addition to N500m released for the scaleup of the drugs revolving fund across our primary healthcare, as well as the over N132m released as state contribution to the basic healthcare provision fund.

“In terms of infrastructure, we have constructed or renovated over 130 primary healthcare centres across the state and constructed two additional General Hospitals.

“Government has directed the provision of free anti-natal care and delivery by skilled birth attendance in our facilities to improve the provision of quality healthcare services to pregnant mothers, and children.

“The upgrading and equipping of the State Specialist Hospital is ongoing. In order to provide protection to our vulnerable women, we have signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, and through the office of the First Lady established Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Offices in Ten Local Government Areas of the State”.

He added, “The Child Right Law has also been passed and signed by us. We have established gender units in all ministries, departments and agencies through UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada projects in order to mainstream gender into our governance structure”.

“We have also upheld our community engagement and empowerment through the training of community health workers and skilled acquisition programmes.

“The support has undoubtedly enhanced the capacity of many young girls and women, prevented diseases and generally improved both mental and socio-economic health of the people of Bauchi State”.

He expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Canadian government, UNICEF and the Development Partners for their continued support and partnership, and assured of the state government’s commitment towards meeting their obligation in all arrangements the government has made with the partners

Earlier in his remarks, Head of the Delegation, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Arash Irantalah, said that Canada sees Nigeria as a key strategic partner in Africa, utilizing an important leadership role that progressive states like Bauchi financing development outcomes for millions of its citizens.

According to the Global to him, it was in line with Canada-Africa strategy for engagement that Bauchi is grounded in partnership, mutual respect and shared objective in improving the lives of its people, especially the most vulnerable ones.

“Canada International Development Programmes in Nigeria focuses on poverty reduction, strengthening health system, advancing gender re cornice,  building climate resilience in line with federal and state priorities and the belief for durable progress happening when state governments take ownership and leadership as Bauchi has demonstrated”.

Irantalah stated their coming to Bauchi is to strengthen family healthcare system and improve maternal and child health outcomes, stressing that sustaining progress in these areas is essential not only for human development, but also for long-term economic growth and stability.

He further disclosed that gender growth remains at the heart of Canada’s approach in focus states in the efforts to extend opportunities for women and girls through education and economic participation, as well as greater infusion in decision making process.

“Empowering vulnerable girls is not only the right thing to do, but it is one of the most effective investments a society can make. We also recognized the growing impact of climate change and agricultural livelihood and food security”, he added.

The head of the delegation assured that Canada will continue supporting initiatives that build resilience, promote climate-mark solutions, and create economic opportunities, particularly for youths and women”.

Irantalah said that as Canada ranks its African strategy increasing intentionally linking development programming with longer term economic resilience and shared prosperity.

He revealed, “As nearly part of the newly announced African strategy last May, they also signed six new projects for Nigeria totaling $64 million, and I am happy to say that out of the six projects, four of them are targeting Bauchi in several areas. “

Irantalah then assured that Canada will continue dialoguing with Bauchi State on how expertise and partnership can complement the work it is doing, and the priorities that Bauchi is saddled with, while nurturing the partnership and strengthening collaborations in the years ahead.