By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with development partners to improve service delivery in education, healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and child protection across the state.
The commitment was reiterated on Tuesday during the Second Quarter Development Partners Coordination Meeting organised by the Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB) in collaboration with the Nigeria INGO Forum at Hillside Motel, Katsina.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, development partners, donor agencies, civil society organisations and beneficiaries to review ongoing interventions, assess progress and identify strategies for enhancing coordination and achieving sustainable development outcomes.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Director of KTDMB, Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the state government was adopting incentive-based reforms to improve performance in critical sectors, particularly education.
He disclosed that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had approved a programme to reward teachers who maintain at least 90 per cent attendance and demonstrate measurable improvements in pupils' learning outcomes.
According to him, the initiative builds on an earlier recognition programme introduced during the International Teachers' Day celebration, when 35 teachers were presented with motorcycles in appreciation of their dedication and punctuality.
"We want to move beyond punishment and create a system that recognises excellence. Teachers who are consistently present in classrooms must also demonstrate positive learning outcomes among their pupils," he said.
Dr Shehu also urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve coordination with development partners by sharing information on ongoing interventions to prevent duplication of efforts and maximise available resources.
He observed that although development partners provide significant technical support, government remains the major financier of development programmes, stressing the need for public institutions to adopt the effective implementation models and institutional capacity demonstrated by donor-supported projects.
Representing UNICEF Kano, the Chief of Nutrition and Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Dr Karanveer Singh, commended the Katsina State Government for providing strong leadership in development programming.
He said UNICEF believes governments should lead development initiatives while partners provide technical and financial support, describing Katsina as an example of effective collaboration.
Dr Singh highlighted the state's pioneering role in piloting the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 2023 guidelines for the management of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
He explained that Nigeria is one of only five countries selected globally to pilot the revised WHO guidelines, with Katsina serving as the pilot state within Nigeria.
According to him, the pilot programme is currently being implemented in 10 Local Government Areas and is expected to be completed by September 2026.
"The lessons emerging from Katsina are already influencing the revision of Nigeria's national guidelines and will contribute to improving the management of severe acute malnutrition globally," he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director of the Nigeria INGO Forum, Musa Baba, commended the Katsina State Government for earmarking ₦500 million for nutrition programmes, describing the allocation as a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to improving child nutrition and public health.
He also praised the state's investments in education, healthcare and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), while urging Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strengthen sectoral coordination with development partners to improve planning, reduce duplication and address development gaps more effectively.
Baba further lauded KTDMB for institutionalising quarterly coordination meetings, expressing optimism that sustained collaboration would enhance development outcomes across the state.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, also addressed the gathering, reaffirming the state's commitment to sustaining partnerships that improve the wellbeing of residents.
Representatives of government ministries, donor agencies, development organisations, civil society groups and beneficiaries attended the meeting, which concluded with renewed commitments to deepen collaboration, strengthen accountability and ensure that development interventions deliver lasting benefits to communities across Katsina State.
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