The Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, has reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to ensuring that every child enjoys equal access to quality education, healthcare, protection and opportunities for growth, regardless of gender, disability, religion, ethnicity or socio-economic background.
The Deputy Governor stated this today Saturday while delivering a message on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf during this year’s (2026) International Children’s Day celebration held at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, under the theme, “Future Now, Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”
Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo said the theme emphasizes the importance of shaping the nation’s future through the opportunities, care, protection and education provided to children today. “Inclusion is not merely a policy objective, but a fundamental right and moral responsibility owed to every Nigerian child” he stressed .
The Deputy Governor noted that children remain the foundation of sustainable development and the custodians of tomorrow’s leadership, adding that the Kano State Government is committed to implementing policies and programmes that ensure no child is left behind.
According to Garo, Governor Yusuf’s administration has continued to invest in education, strengthen child protection mechanisms, improve healthcare services and create an enabling environment where children can learn, flourish and realise their full potential.
The Deputy Governor encouraged children to work hard and embrace the values of honesty, respect and patriotism. He assured them that their voices matter and that their talents are valuable in building a Nigeria where children can fully enjoy their rights and contribute meaningfully to National development.
Earlier in her remarks, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina S. Abdullahi (HOD), commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration for expanding access to social protection interventions for vulnerable children and persons with disabilities.
While highlighting the numerous achievements recorded by the administration, the Commissioner appealed to Governor Abba Yusuf to inaugurate the Kano State Child Protection Committee to facilitate the effective implementation of the Child Protection Law.
“Through its implementation, issues such as child begging and the plight of street-connected children can be addressed more effectively, ensuring that every child, regardless of social background, benefits from meaningful interventions,” she said.
She also solicited support for the enactment of an Orphanage Bill to further safeguard children and tackle child abuse, child trafficking and the proliferation of illegal orphanages.
The Commissioner further advised children to learn continuously and dream big, respect their parents, teachers and elders, and avoid drugs, violence,other social vices and bad company.
Also speaking, the quest speaker, Dr. Sulaiman Isyaku, quoted that “I want you to understand that the food you eat determines how you think. Your thinking determines your actions. Your actions determine your progress. Your progress determines the progress of your state, and the progress of your state determines the progress of your nation. Therefore, if Kano State safeguards children’s nutrition, we can confidently say that inclusion has truly been achieved.”
On his part, Imam Ahmad Zubair, the State Chairman of the Association of Private Schools Proprietors who delivered a goodwill message appreciate Kano State Government for involving private schools in the commemoration for the first time in the state’s history. Lurwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, Public Relation Officer, Deputy Governor’s Office Kano State.