Self Help Africa Rallies Stakeholders to Strengthen Kano Food System, Boost Jobs Through Agriculture and WS4H

By Ladan Muhammad Garko

Self Help Africa (SHA) has brought together government officials, development partners, private sector actors, civil society organisations and community representatives to strengthen Kano State’s food system, expand agricultural value chains and create sustainable employment opportunities through integrated agriculture and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WS4H) interventions.

The multi-stakeholder engagement, held on Wednesday at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, provided a platform for participants to review the implementation of ongoing intervention programmes, assess progress and challenges, and develop practical strategies for improving food security and livelihoods across the state.

Speaking at the meeting, Self Help Africa’s Head of Office, Hajara Mohammad, highlighted the organisation’s key intervention projects in Kano, including the Optimizing the Benefits of Inline Chlorination in Nigeria (OPTIC) project, the Dispenser for Sustainable Rural Water in Nigeria (DiSURWIN) project, the Youth in Work (YiW) initiative and the WASH System for Health (WS4H) programme.

She said the initiatives are designed to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation, enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen food systems and equip young people with skills for sustainable employment.

Mohammad reaffirmed Self Help Africa’s commitment to working closely with the Kano State Government and development partners to deliver lasting benefits to communities across the state.

The Kano State Programme Coordinator of WS4H, Aminu Musa Idris, described the stakeholder engagement as a critical step towards improving access to potable water and sanitation facilities in Kano.

He said bringing all key stakeholders together would strengthen collaboration, improve coordination and accelerate the achievement of the programme’s objectives.

“The success of these interventions depends largely on the active participation and commitment of all stakeholders. Through stronger partnerships, we can improve public health, food security and economic opportunities for our people,” Idris said.

During the engagement, participants reviewed progress recorded under the various intervention projects, highlighting key achievements, implementation challenges, mitigation strategies and sustainability plans.

They stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development organisations, the private sector and local communities to enhance agricultural value chains, expand access to safe water and sanitation services, and create more employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.

The meeting also featured documentary presentations showcasing the impact of the WS4H and Youth in Work programmes in beneficiary communities.

Participants engaged in interactive discussions on safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms and measures to protect vulnerable groups during project implementation.

In his remarks, the Desk Officer of the WS4H Programme at the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources and Deputy Director, Mustapha Hussaini Hassan, underscored the importance of maintaining infrastructure provided under the interventions to ensure their long-term sustainability.

He called on beneficiary communities and relevant institutions to take ownership of the projects to guarantee continuous service delivery.

At the end of the meeting, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen food systems, promote agricultural value chains, improve rural water and sanitation services, and generate sustainable employment opportunities across Kano State.

The engagement concluded with goodwill messages from participating organisations and a renewed pledge by stakeholders to deepen collaboration in advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the state.