Sokoto, TCI Partnership Deepens Family Planning Drive

Sokoto, TCI Partnership Deepens Family Planning Drive

 

 

Sokoto State has taken bold strides in reproductive health with the successful implementation of a three-year partnership with The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a programme that has redefined family planning advocacy, service delivery, and policy engagement in the state.

 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in September 2022, was more than a routine agreement—it marked government recognition that family planning is central to maternal and child health, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

 

Over the past three years, the partnership has yielded remarkable results. Advocacy groups, media campaigns, and community dialogues dismantled myths and misconceptions, while tailored fact sheets provided policymakers and traditional leaders with evidence to back decision-making.

 

Public health analyst Abdullahi Aliyu observed that before TCI’s intervention, family planning was often stigmatized in Sokoto. “Advocacy efforts were weak, resources scarce, and awareness limited. But the creation of a Family Planning Advocacy Core Group, supported by TCI, changed the narrative,” he said.

 

Dr. Bello Abubakar Kilgori, TCI Programme Manager in Sokoto, noted the significant rise in family planning uptake.

“The state has recorded a steady increase in new family planning clients, from fewer than 100,000 to well above that mark during TCI’s engagement. This growth reflects not just numbers but improved access, family acceptance, and a shift in public perception,” he said.

 

The impact has also shaped government policy. Sokoto earmarked ₦100 million in its 2025 budget for family planning—a move described by stakeholders as historic and directly linked to advocacy supported by TCI.

 

According to Kilgori, “The government is not only listening but taking ownership. We see that ownership as a big success.”

 

Beyond policy circles, religious and community leaders who were once sceptical have become advocates. Women’s groups now openly discuss child spacing and maternal health, while families testify to reduced maternal mortality and improved household stability.

 

The ripple effect has crossed into neighbouring states such as Kebbi and Zamfara, while other TCI-supported states—Akwa Ibom, Yobe, and Borno—are adopting Sokoto’s model.

 

As TCI gradually winds down direct intervention, its legacy is sustainability. Structures, networks, and local capacity have been strengthened to ensure continuity.

 

TCI focal person in Sokoto, Musa Ubandawaki, affirmed this. “Family planning is no longer a sensitive whisper but a mainstream policy issue. Increased awareness, policy support, and community acceptance have positioned Sokoto for self-reliance in its family planning programmes,” he said.

 

What began as an MoU in 2022 has since blossomed into a homegrown movement, turning silence into conversation and stigma into acceptance.