Business
SELF Help Africa (SHA) has engaged stakeholders in Kano on strategies to strengthen food systems, improve agricultural value chains and create sustainable jobs through its agriculture and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes.
The organisation held a multi-stakeholder engagement meeting on Thursday, bringing together government officials, development partners, private sector operators, community representatives and civil society organisations.
The meeting reviewed ongoing programmes, assessed progress and challenges, and identified measures to improve food security and livelihoods across the state.
Speaking at the event, SHA Programme Manager, Hajara Mohammad, said the organisation was implementing projects aimed at improving access to basic services, strengthening agriculture and promoting youth employment.
She listed the projects to include Optimising the Benefits of Inline Chlorination in Nigeria (OPTIC), Dispenser for Sustainable Rural Water in Nigeria (DiSURWIN), Youth in Work (YiW) initiative and WASH System for Health (WASH4Health).
Mohammad said the interventions were designed to improve access to safe water and sanitation, boost agricultural productivity, strengthen food systems and equip young people with skills for sustainable employment.
She reaffirmed SHA’s commitment to collaborating with government and development partners to achieve lasting impact in beneficiary communities.
Also speaking, Kano State Programme Coordinator of WASH4Health, Aminu Idris, said the engagement would strengthen efforts to improve access to potable water and sanitation facilities across the state.
Idris said bringing stakeholders together would enhance coordination, improve collaboration and accelerate the achievement of programme 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,” he said.
Participants reviewed progress under the various projects, including achievements, implementation challenges, mitigation measures and sustainability plans.
They discussed safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms and measures to protect vulnerable groups during project implementation.
Earlier, Mustapha Hassan, Desk Officer of WASH4Health in the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources, urged beneficiaries and relevant institutions to take ownership of infrastructure provided under the interventions.
Hassan said proper maintenance of the facilities was critical to ensuring their sustainability and continued service delivery.
The stakeholders pledged commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening food systems, promoting agricultural value chains, improving rural water supply and sanitation services, and creating sustainable employment opportunities in Kano.
The engagement featured documentary presentations highlighting the impact of the WASH and Youth in Work programmes in beneficiary communities.
Participants emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, private sector organisations and communities to improve agricultural value chains and expand access to water and sanitation services.
They also called for measures to create employment opportunities, especially for women and youths.
(NAN)
A.I
July 16, 2026
Tags: Aminu Idris Hajara Mohammad Mustapha Hassan OPTIC SELF Help Africa WASH4Health