The Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Adamawa State Polytechnic have signed an agreement aimed at enhancing the identification and training of social workers across communities.

Towards this end, the newly signed agreements will focus on mapping existing social workers, identifying auxiliary community-based caregivers, and training them on the fundamentals of child protection within Adamawa’s socio-cultural and economic realities.

The Adamawa State Polytechnic is expected to lead the training efforts, with financial and technical support from UNICEF.
Speaking at the event, Ladi Alabi, a Child Protection Specialist, described the partnership as a critical step towards professionalizing child welfare services at the grassroots.

“This agreement creates a synergy between the three institutions to identify and train auxiliary social workers who are already doing the work informally but lack professional qualifications,” Alabi said. “Once trained, these individuals will return to their communities better equipped to protect children.”

She explained that the Polytechnic was chosen for its existing capacity in social welfare training.

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to funding the initiative, in line with its mission to uphold every child’s right to health, education, nutrition, and protection from abuse.

“The basic rights of children, nutrition, healthcare, education, sanitation, and protection from violence are non-negotiable. Children must also be given opportunities to thrive and recover from any harm they experience,” Rafique said.

Leaders of the participating institutions, including Dr. Sulaiman Said Bashir of the PHCDA, Dr. Muhammad Toungos (represented by the Registrar) of Adamawa State Polytechnic, and Hon. Neido Kofulto (represented by the Permanent Secretary) of the Ministry of Women Affairs, expressed gratitude to UNICEF.

They pledged their full support to ensure the success of the initiative, which they described as a timely intervention for the future of children in Adamawa.

The enforcement of children’s rights to education, healthcare, and protection remains a challenge in Adamawa State, given the high number of out-of-school children and exposure to abuse, which has continued to threaten the well-being of the state’s young population.