Participants during an advocacy rally organised by UNICEF and the Sokoto State Government to promote polio vaccination in Sokoto.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Sokoto State Government are targeting more than one million children for polio vaccination as they intensify efforts to eradicate the disease amid insecurity and difficulties accessing some communities.
The campaign featured an advocacy rally on Saturday and a para-soccer tournament involving polio survivors on Friday as part of activities marking the 2026 World Polio Day.
The rally began at the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, passed through Marina and Gobirawa, and returned to the hospital, with participants urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the free polio vaccine.
Speaking during the rally, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Issa Ibrahim, said the participation of government officials, community leaders, health workers and media practitioners demonstrated a collective commitment to protecting children against polio.
“Our expectation is to ensure that no child is left behind and that every child gets access to the vaccine. By the end of this year, we are hoping Nigeria will be a polio-free country,” Ibrahim said.
He, however, identified insecurity and limited access to some communities as major challenges to achieving universal vaccination coverage.
Ibrahim said engaging local stakeholders was essential to reaching children in areas where security concerns prevented health workers and other outsiders from gaining access.
“In some communities, it is very difficult for people coming from outside to access them. We can only work with community leaders, media practitioners, health workers and other stakeholders who understand their immediate environment,” he said.
He added that the Sokoto State Government had established an executive committee to oversee vaccination activities and ensure effective implementation of the campaign.
Ibrahim urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with vaccination teams, stressing that the vaccine was free and necessary to protect children from the debilitating effects of polio.
Also speaking, the Director of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation at the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Umar Gada, said sustained government leadership, community engagement and support from development partners were essential to eradicating the disease.
Gada said activities marking World Polio Day included a youth football match on October 21, a friendly match between government officials and development partners on October 22, a para-soccer tournament involving polio survivors, and the advocacy rally.
He said the activities were designed to raise awareness about polio prevention and demonstrate that eradicating the disease required the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
“Without strong government leadership, commitment and funding, no partner can succeed,” Gada said, commending Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting the campaign.
In his remarks, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist and Staff Association Chair for the Sokoto Field Office, Pius Wamanwa, said the campaign’s theme, “One Focus, One Day, Ending Polio,” emphasised the need for coordinated action among government institutions, development partners and communities.
Similarly, the State Health Educator at the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Sabiu Gandhi, said the government had introduced measures to strengthen vaccination monitoring, address resistance to immunisation and improve coverage across communities.