The United Kingdom (UK) Government has commended the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani for driving transformational reforms in Kaduna State, while also reaffirming its commitment to supporting the State’s development agenda.

The commendation was made by the UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Jenny Chapman, during an courtesy visit to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna as part of her scheduled assessment visit to review the impact of UK-funded programmes being implemented through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) across the sectors of education, health, social protection, environment, and agriculture.

Chapman praised Governor Sani for his consistent partnership with the FCDO, pointing out that the collaboration has played a critical role in strengthening public institutions, enhancing accountability, and fostering reform-oriented leadership.

She also lauded Kaduna State’s remarkable progress in peace and security, describing it as a key enabler of development and economic growth.

The Minister pledged the UK Government’s continued support to Kaduna State in line with its development priorities, reaffirming the commitment to deepening cooperation for sustainable and inclusive development.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Governor  Sani described the partnership with the UK Government as strategic, consistent, and results-driven, with outcomes that are both demonstrable and nationally recognised.

According to him, sustained engagement through landmark programmes such as the State and Local Governance Programme (SLGP), State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC), Supporting Active Voice for Impact (SAVI), Partnership for Education and Learning (PERL), and the Partnership for Accountability and Civic Engagement (PACE) has helped position Kaduna State as a leading model of subnational reforms in Nigeria.

Governor Sani noted that Kaduna’s early adoption of the Open Government Partnership (OGP)—making it the second subnational government in Africa to embrace the initiative—underscores the state’s commitment to transparency, citizen participation, and accountable governance.

He further revealed that Kaduna State has recorded a more than 500 per cent increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), driven by far-reaching reforms in revenue administration, fiscal transparency, and institutional capacity development, many of which were supported through the enduring partnership with the FCDO.

Besides, the visit further highlights the strong and enduring relationship between Kaduna State and the United Kingdom, anchored on shared goals of strengthening institutions, promoting good governance, expanding economic opportunities, and improving the quality of life for citizens.