By Oluyemi Israel
Katsina State has begun implementing a new approach to budgeting that focuses on children’s well-being, in a move aimed at improving health, education, and protection for the state’s youngest population.
The initiative, known as child-sensitive budgeting, is designed to prioritize the specific needs of children through targeted government spending.
This shift is critical as nearly half of Katsina’s estimated 9.6 million residents are children, many of whom face serious issues such as poor healthcare, low school attendance, malnutrition, and poverty.
According to child development advocates, investing in children today will lead to a stronger future and help reduce long-term social and economic costs.
UNICEF, the Katsina State Government, civil society groups, media representatives, and global partners including Save the Children, the World Bank, and the European Union are involved in the effort.
Stakeholders agree that putting children at the center of planning is both a moral responsibility and an economic necessity.
The announcement followed discussions during the 2025 Children’s Day celebration and a media dialogue held in Katsina. The plan builds on budget data from 2022–2024 and is expected to shape allocations for the 2026 budget cycle.
Similar child-focused budgeting efforts have been successfully adopted in countries like South Africa and Bangladesh, and Katsina aims to follow suit by improving domestic resource mobilisation, enhancing collaboration among government agencies, and increasing transparency in spending.
Government officials say training for ministries and departments will be intensified, and efforts are underway to ensure funds are properly released and used to support children’s needs directly.
If fully implemented, the plan could lead to major improvements in child health, education, and protection across Katsina State.