(Auxiliary Social Workers. Photo by Radio Nigeria Kaduna)
Zamfara State has graduated 710 auxiliary social workers to strengthen child protection and welfare services.
Governor Dauda Lawal, represented by Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Nakwada, spoke at the ceremony.
The workers are being trained to act as the government’s eyes, ears and hands in local communities.
The workers have already identified, referred and supported 2,030 vulnerable children during their fieldwork.
The programme is supported by UNICEF and run by Federal University Gusau.
At the event, the governor also unveiled the Zamfara State Family Court Rules and launched Alternative Care Guidelines for Children.
The court rules aim to make justice child friendly and confidential, so victims are not traumatised again.
The guidelines set out procedures for kinship care and foster care, and treat institutional care as a last resort.
He also directed that the Huriyya Safe Centre, a one stop facility for survivors of gender based violence and other abuse, be fully operational.
The governor asked the Ministry of Women and Social Development and the Ministry of Budget and Planning to secure funding for the programme in the 2027 budget.
He also ordered plans to train 1,070 more auxiliary social workers so that all 14 local government areas are covered.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Sokoto, Michael Juma, praised the state for the initiative.
Local Government Commissioner Garba Yandi said the new workers will be placed in local government social welfare structures.
Women Affairs Commissioner Aisha Anka said they will identify children facing abuse, neglect, homelessness, school exclusion, displacement and conflict with the law.
