The social protection policy under Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna is a transformative tool for poverty reduction, equity, and resilience, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Investment Protection Agency (KADSIPA), Sani Maikudi, has said.

According to Maikudi, Governor Sani has remained committed to ensuring that social protection is not just a policy but a transformative tool for improving the welfare of the citizens in the state.

The Executive Secretary of KADSIPA, Maikudi, made this known at the opening of a two-day workshop in Zaria, Kaduna State, at the weekend.

He explained that “Governor Uba Sani’s administration recognises the importance of continuously assessing and refining our policies to meet the evolving needs of our citizens,” pointing out that “It is this commitment that has made workshops like this possible, where stakeholders come together to review, analyse, and improve critical frameworks like the Social Protection Policy.”

Besides, in her goodwill message, the Social Policy Officer of the Kaduna Field Office of UNICEF, Wakidara Mavis Akila, said the review is timely and highly welcomed, especially because of climate change.

She assured participants of UNICEF’s continuous support while congratulating KADSIPA and the Kaduna State Government for their commitment to the success of the programme in the state.

Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Malam Muhammad Shehu Danhassan, commended the key roles and functions of Civil Society Organizations by the Kaduna State Government.

He added that the Human-Centered Design (HCD) should be mainstreamed and captured into the Social Protection Policy, as this will ensure that beneficiaries are involved in all decision-making processes.

Also, Summaya Hussein, the Citizens Co-Chair of the OGP Technical Working Group, urged KADSIPA to strengthen social protection systems and to also ensure that the policy touches the lives of the people.

He said, “We need to ensure that what we have on paper will reflect in the vulnerable families we are targeting.”
The workshop, which was organized by KADSIPA in collaboration with UNICEF, is aimed at reviewing the Kaduna State Social Protection Policy.

The policy, which was designed in 2020, has a three-year review as part of its guiding principles for effective use of the policy document, to address emerging challenges and incorporate global best practices into the policy framework.

Representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Kaduna State, UNICEF, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) attended the workshop.

Also, the Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) and the Kaduna State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) were represented.