The Sokoto State Government in collaboration with UNICEF has launched a two-day capacity-building workshop for planning, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) officers, in a bid to enhance planning and service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training, which kicked off at Azbir Hotel in Birnin Kebbi, brought together key stakeholders in governance and development to strengthen institutional frameworks for planning, documentation, monitoring, and reporting.
Speaking at the opening session, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, emphasized the importance of proper planning in achieving sustainable development goals. He said the training was timely, coming as the state is developing its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), State Development Plan (SDP), and preparing the 2026 Budget Proposal.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to improving planning capacity across MDAs, ensuring that our policies and programs are data-driven and effectively implemented,” Dr. Zayyana said. He thanked Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting the ministry’s development initiatives and commended UNICEF for its continued partnership in the state’s growth.
Also addressing participants, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, described planning and M&E officers as the backbone of government operations. He urged them to prioritize accurate data collection and analysis to inform sound policy decisions that directly benefit citizens.
“The quality of our data determines the quality of decisions made at the top,” he noted. “Your role is central to ensuring we achieve results that impact lives positively.”
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Home Affairs, Usman Arzika Bodinga, praised the training as a value-adding exercise that would boost governance efficiency, economic growth, and public service outcomes.
UNICEF’s Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation from Abuja, Mr. Wayne Bacale, highlighted the objectives of the workshop and encouraged participants to contribute actively. He reaffirmed UNICEF’s readiness to support Sokoto State in improving systems that enhance the well-being of its citizens.
Other key speakers included Sani Abdullahi, Director of Planning at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and Bello Gwadabawa, Chairman of the Sokoto State Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), both of whom underscored the relevance of the training in strengthening institutional productivity and accountability.
The event was attended by senior government officials, UNICEF representatives—including the Chief of Field Office, Mr. Michael Juma—and other development partners.
