The Sokoto State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with funding from the European Union, has unveiled a scholarship scheme to train 500 midwives for deployment to rural communities.
The two-year Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme will fully fund 500 women and girls from rural areas to study community midwifery, with a commitment to return and provide essential healthcare services in their communities after graduation.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu formally launched the programme on Tuesday at the 8th Sokoto State Council on Health meeting, held in collaboration with development partners. He said the initiative forms part of wider efforts to improve access to skilled maternal healthcare across the state.
He noted that the administration had introduced a Mandatory Rural Posting Policy under which around 1,500 nurses and midwives have been deployed to underserved areas, with a 10 per cent salary incentive for rural service. The state has also recruited 2,400 community health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
According to the governor, the state has entered into a partnership with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital to improve specialist care, supervision and training through structured rotations and knowledge transfer to rural facilities.
He added that government investment includes the renovation and equipping of 15 general hospitals and the upgrading of over 160 primary healthcare centres, alongside the release of N300 million in counterpart funding to support health initiatives.
Health Commissioner Dr Faruk Abubakar-Wurno described the State Council on Health as a key platform for policy coordination and noted the state’s strong performance in implementing national health decisions.
Representatives of UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF welcomed the initiative, saying it would improve access to skilled birth attendants, strengthen health surveillance and enhance governance in the health sector.
