The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed concern over rising poverty levels, poor education standards, and weak healthcare systems affecting millions across Nigeria’s North-West region.
Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue in Kano on Wednesday, Sanusi stressed that leaders must confront the region’s harsh realities if meaningful progress is to be achieved. He urged policymakers to stop avoiding difficult truths and take decisive action.
He noted that despite years of interventions, many communities in the region still face widespread poverty, limited access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare services. According to him, development will remain slow if leaders continue to rely on rhetoric rather than measurable results.
Sanusi also criticised what he described as a growing tendency among leaders to make promises without delivering tangible outcomes, insisting that governance must focus on real improvements in people’s lives.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima—represented by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin—called for the introduction of a Universal Child Benefit to support vulnerable households.
He noted that supporting children directly would improve nutrition, keep more of them in school, and reduce cases of child labour and early marriage, stressing that “a hungry child reflects a struggling future.”
A representative of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed, also highlighted persistent inequality in access to basic services and called for stronger implementation of social protection policies to help families cope with economic hardship, insecurity, and climate challenges.
At the end of the dialogue, North-West governors reportedly agreed to prioritise poverty reduction, pledging improved funding, stronger coordination, and expanded social welfare programmes across the region.
