The Sokoto State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Zayyana Abubakar, says the government will collaborate with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners to implement data-driven programmes in the state.
Zayyana said this on Tuesday in Sokoto at a two-day capacity-strengthening workshop organised by the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF.
He described proper planning as a prerequisite for the success of any policy or programme, noting that the current training was both timely and appropriate.
According to him, the training targets planning, monitoring, and evaluation officers from various ministries, departments, and agencies, aiming to improve their capacity in planning, documentation, and service delivery.
The commissioner noted that the workshop aligned with the state’s ongoing process of developing its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), State Development Plan (SDP), and 2026 budget proposal.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ladan Ala, described planning, monitoring, and evaluation officers as vital to the state’s growth and development.
He urged them to ensure data accuracy, harmonisation, and effective presentation to aid informed decision-making.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Home Affairs, Alhaji Usman Arzika, commended the training, saying it would enhance economic growth and improve governance and public service delivery in the state.
Earlier, UNICEF’s Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Wayne Bacale, encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and share experiences to maximise the workshop’s impact.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022), Sokoto State has the highest poverty rate in Nigeria.
The report indicates that about 90 per cent of its six million residents are affected, a situation that demands urgent intervention. (NAN)
