Bauchi Govt Seeks Stronger Ties with Canadian High Commission, UNICEF
From Abubakar Hardawa
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Bauchi State Government, particularly in education, health, agriculture, economic empowerment, and adolescent development.
Head of Development Cooperation at Global Affairs Canada, Mr. Arash Iranatalah, made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government House in Bauchi.
The visit was part of a four-day working tour by the Commission and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Country Office to assess the impact of their grant support in the state.
Mr. Iranatalah, who led the delegation, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the long-standing partnership, describing it as fruitful and worth sustaining.
UNICEF’s Deputy Country Representative, Ms. Rownak Khan, commended the Bauchi State Government for its ₦300 million matching grant contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and for creating an enabling environment for development partners.
She stressed the need for sustained commitment, given the high number of malnourished children requiring urgent intervention in the state.
In response, Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Auwal Muhammad Jatau, said his administration demonstrated fiscal responsibility last year by injecting over ₦800 million into the Primary Health Care Memorandum of Understanding basket fund—a joint initiative involving UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and the Dangote Foundation.
He thanked the Canadian High Commission and UNICEF for their numerous interventions, noting their visible impact on the lives of citizens.
The Governor pledged his administration’s continued commitment to collaboration aimed at improving the well-being of people across the state.
