Sokoto First Lady Advocates for N150m UNFPA Funding

On Wednesday, Maryam Aliyu, the First Lady of Sokoto State, committed to advocating for the timely release of N150 million allocated to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the state's 2026 budget. This pledge was made during an advocacy visit from the Sokoto State Family Planning Advocacy Group, which is supported by UNFPA and the Sokoto State Government.

Maryam Aliyu expressed her intention to engage with Governor Ahmed Aliyu to ensure the funds are released promptly to support family planning and UNFPA-backed initiatives. Dr Rabi Sagir, the State Team Lead of UNFPA’s Sokoto Field Office, praised the First Lady for her ongoing support for initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of women and children.

She noted that Sokoto State had previously contributed N30 million as counterpart funding and appealed for continued advocacy for the 2026 budget allocation. Governor Ahmed Aliyu has assured UNFPA of his support for its programs throughout his administration.