UNFPA, Sokoto Train 500 Midwives to Tackle Maternal Deaths in Rural Areas
Mirian Gom 
SOKOTO, Nigeria — The United Nations Population Fund has partnered with the Sokoto State Government to train 500 young women as community midwives under a new scholarship scheme aimed at reducing maternal deaths and improving access to skilled care in rural communities.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday at the state’s 8th Council on Health meeting, will provide full scholarships to beneficiaries under the Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme, with 250 trainees enrolled in 2026 and another 250 in 2027.
Graduates will be deployed to underserved areas, where access to skilled birth attendants remains limited.
Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto described the programme as critical to closing gaps in maternal and child healthcare.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that our people, especially those in rural communities, have access to quality and affordable healthcare services,” he said.
The intervention comes alongside broader workforce expansion efforts, including the deployment of over 1,500 nurses and midwives under a rural posting policy.
Health Commissioner Faruk Umar said the state is also recruiting more than 2,400 community health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
UNFPA officials said the initiative is designed to expand access to skilled birth attendance and improve health outcomes at the grassroots, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
The agency disclosed that Sokoto is among its highest-funded states, with over N4.6 billion earmarked for 2026, reflecting both the scale of need and expected impact.
Experts say the combination of workforce expansion, training, and family planning support could mark a turning point in tackling maternal mortality in the state.
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Korede Abdullah 
