SOKOTO, NIGERIA — The First Lady of Sokoto State, Hajia Maryam Aliyu, has pledged her support for the timely release of the N150 million counterpart funding allocated to the United Nations Population Fund in the state’s 2026 budget, a move that could significantly expand access to family planning services and save hundreds of lives .
The commitment was made on Wednesday when the Sokoto State Family Planning Advocacy Group, supported by UNFPA and the state government, paid her an advocacy visit. The First Lady assured the delegation that she would use her office to engage Governor Ahmed Aliyu on the need to release the funds promptly to support family planning and other UNFPA-backed interventions .
“I will use my office to join in the advocacy to the state governor on the timely release of the funds as allocated in the budget,” Hajia Maryam said. She also assured the advocacy group and UNFPA of her continued support and collaboration, particularly on programmes aimed at improving the well-being of women and children. “My door is always open to the UNFPA team in order to achieve its objectives in the state,” she added .
The State Team Lead of UNFPA’s Sokoto Field Office, Dr Rabi Sagir, commended the First Lady for her support for the organisation’s initiatives, particularly those addressing issues affecting children and families . “We work with First Ladies in the country, but I can assure you that you are one of the First Ladies we are proud of at UNFPA due to your support for our initiatives,” Sagir said. She noted that Sokoto State had continued to occupy a prominent position in UNFPA interventions and support across the country .
Sagir revealed that Sokoto was among the first states to provide its N30 million counterpart contribution last year, noting that the First Lady played an important role in ensuring the timely release of those funds. She appealed to the First Lady to support advocacy for the immediate release of the N150 million counterpart funding provided for in the 2026 budget, warning that the scale of the investment is directly linked to lives saved .
“We know you will help us, and we are using this medium to tell you that our target for next year is to multiply our support by eight,” Sagir said. According to UNFPA analysis, releasing the N150 million budget provision could save about 350 women from maternal deaths, underscoring the urgency of the advocacy .
The advocacy visit reflects a deepening partnership between Sokoto State and UNFPA on reproductive health interventions. Sokoto remains among UNFPA’s highest-funded states in Nigeria, with funding exceeding N4.6 billion in 2026 . The state government has also increased its budgetary allocation for family planning commodities from N30 million in 2025 to N150 million in the 2026 budget, a significant leap demonstrating political will to tackle maternal mortality .
She added that Governor Ahmed Aliyu had assured UNFPA of his continued support for its programmes until the end of his administration, expressing confidence that the First Lady would remain committed to the interventions . The advocacy visit formed part of efforts by the State Family Planning Advocacy Group, with support from UNFPA and the state government, to strengthen government commitment and financing for family planning services and related reproductive health interventions in Sokoto State .
