The Sokoto State Government, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has unveiled a two-year scholarship scheme for 500 midwives to be trained and deployed to rural communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative, tagged the Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme in Sokoto State, is funded by the European Union to strengthen maternal healthcare delivery.
Under the scheme, 500 women and girls from rural areas will receive full scholarships to study community midwifery and, upon graduation, return to their communities to provide essential healthcare services.
Gov. Ahmad Aliyu inaugurated the programme on Tuesday after declaring open the 8th Sokoto State Council on Health meeting, organised by the state government in collaboration with UNFPA and other development partners.
Aliyu described the initiative as a landmark step toward improving maternal health services, noting that his administration introduced a Mandatory Rural Posting Policy to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare workers across underserved communities.
“Under this policy, about 1,500 nurses and midwives have been recruited and deployed to underserved rural communities, with an incentive of 10 per cent of their basic salary for those serving in rural areas.
“This initiative is already strengthening service delivery at the grassroots. In compliance with National Primary Healthcare Development Agency guidelines, the state has also recruited 2,400 Community Health Workers,” he said.
He added that the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital to strengthen specialist support, mentorship, and capacity building in secondary health facilities, especially in rural areas.
According to him, the partnership is designed to improve access to skilled health personnel through structured rotations, supervision, and knowledge transfer, ultimately enhancing healthcare quality and outcomes across the state.
“The ultimate goal of this initiative is to bridge the gap in specialised healthcare services and ensure that our people have improved access to quality and timely medical care, thereby improving the state’s health indices,” he said.
Aliyu further disclosed that the government approved the renovation and equipping of 15 general hospitals, in addition to more than 160 primary healthcare facilities already upgraded across the state.
He said the council meeting reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector, adding that about N300 million had been released as counterpart funding to support ongoing health programmes and partnerships.
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“The strategic investment is aimed at unlocking additional support from development partners, accelerating critical interventions, and ensuring effective implementation of priority health initiatives across the state.
“Efforts are also geared toward alignment with national health priorities and the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s health sector for sustainable development,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar-Wurno, described the State Council on Health as a key governance platform for coordinating policies, programmes, and stakeholder collaboration in the healthcare sector.
He said the state achieved 95 per cent implementation of National Council on Health decisions and emerged best among states at a national health sector training workshop, reflecting strong commitment and workforce resilience.
UNFPA representative, Dr Yusuf Alayande, commended the initiative, noting it aligned with efforts to achieve universal health coverage and improve maternal health outcomes through increased access to skilled birth attendants.
He also lauded the state for allocating funds for child spacing commodities, adding that such investments demonstrated commitment to reproductive health and supported ongoing interventions aimed at improving family health outcomes.
The World Health Organization representative (WHO), Dr Yusuf Argungu, said WHO deployed 275 personnel across 244 wards for disease surveillance and outbreak response, commending the state’s dedication to strengthening health systems.
Similarly, UNICEF representative, Dr Danjuma Nahemih, said that Sokoto had consistently held the State Council on Health meeting, unlike some states, describing it as a sign of commitment to health sector governance.
(NAN)
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