UNICEF: 75% of Katsina children live in multidimensional poverty

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said 75.5 percent of children in Katsina live in multidimensional poverty, describing the situation as alarming. UNICEF urged the state government to adopt child-sensitive budgeting, stressing that investments in children’s health, nutrition and education are vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering lasting peace and prosperity. Rahama […]

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said 75.5 percent of children in Katsina live in multidimensional poverty, describing the situation as alarming.

UNICEF urged the state government to adopt child-sensitive budgeting, stressing that investments in children’s health, nutrition and education are vital to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering lasting peace and prosperity.

Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, spoke during a stakeholder engagement on child-focused budgeting held on Tuesday.

He noted that the state’s approved social sector budget has seen a sharp decline, dropping from 38.57 percent in 2016 to just 12.98 percent in 2020.

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“Additionally, 61.2 percent of children live in monetary poverty, 33.3 percent are out of school at the primary level, and 51.3 percent of children under five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition,” Farah said.

He emphasised that child-sensitive budgeting goes beyond allocating funds to schools and clinics. It requires deliberate prioritisation, equitable allocation, tracking, transparency, and impact assessment.

Farah called on government officials, civil society organisations, and the media to collaborate and ensure the effective implementation of child-sensitive budgeting.

The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Malik Anas, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Tijjani Umar, said Katsina State has a population of about 10 million, with 4.5 million children aged 0-14, underlining the urgency of increasing investment in children’s welfare.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to reflecting child-focused financing in the 2026 budget and pledged that the ministry would ensure all MDAs make meaningful budgetary provisions for children.