Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, First Lady of Sokoto State has announced full support for the state’s ₦150 million counterpart funding commitment to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The First Lady of Sokoto State, Maryam Aliyu has pledged to support efforts to secure the timely release of N150 million in counterpart funding allocated to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the state’s 2026 budget.
She made the commitment during an advocacy visit by the Sokoto State Family Planning Advocacy Group which is supported by the UNFPA and the state government.
Assuring the delegation of her support, the First Lady promised to use her office to engage Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the urgent need to release the funds. The financing is designated to support family planning initiatives and other UNFPA-backed healthcare programs across Sokoto.
Maryam Aliyu emphasized that her office remains open to partnering with the UNFPA to execute projects aimed at improving the health and overall well-being of women and children throughout the state.
Dr. Rabi Sagir, the State Team Lead for UNFPA’s Sokoto Field Office praised the First Lady for her ongoing support of initiatives that protect vulnerable children and families. She noted that Sokoto continues to play a leading role in UNFPA’s regional health and social interventions.
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Sagir recalled that Sokoto was among the first states to fulfill its N30 million counterpart funding requirement in the previous year, a milestone achieved with active advocacy from the First Lady’s office.
Looking ahead, the UNFPA revealed plans to multiply its investment and operational support in Sokoto eightfold next year. The group expressed confidence in Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s ongoing commitment to partner with international agencies on sustainable reproductive health and family planning interventions until the end of his tenure.
