The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for urgent and sustained measures to tackle poverty and inequality in Nigeria’s North-West region, warning that failure to act decisively could worsen hardship and limit future opportunities for children.
He made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue held in Kano State, where he urged policymakers to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical, long-term solutions.
Sanusi emphasized that a society should be judged by how well it expands opportunities and protects its most vulnerable citizens, stressing that a child’s future should not be defined by their background or economic status.
He noted that poverty in the region is deeply entrenched and continues to manifest in poor education outcomes, weak healthcare systems, high child malnutrition rates, and widespread unemployment among young people.
To address these challenges, he recommended the establishment of a long-term social investment framework across states, with protected funding for key sectors such as education, healthcare, social protection, and youth development.
He also proposed a basic social support system that guarantees essential services for citizens at different stages of life, from early childhood through adulthood.
The Emir highlighted the importance of early childhood development, saying the early years of a child’s life are crucial in shaping learning capacity and future wellbeing. He called for increased investment in nutrition, early education, and parental support systems.
Additionally, he advocated stronger interventions for out-of-school children, adult literacy programmes, and youth skills acquisition initiatives to reduce unemployment and improve living standards.
Sanusi further encouraged the use of traditional institutions in community-level data collection and programme implementation, noting that they are closer to the people and better understand local realities.
He also called for improved transparency and accountability, urging governments in the region to regularly publish results of social investment programmes and track progress annually.
The Emir warned that without consistent leadership and effective implementation, poverty levels in the region would continue to deepen and negatively impact future generations.
