The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kano State Government have partnered for the November 2025 Polio Vaccination Campaign, to boost public awareness and ensure broad community participation.
The campaign scheduled for 29 November to 2 December 2025, aims to vaccinate 3.1 million children aged 0–59 months across all 484 wards in the state’s 44 local government areas.
The Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Rahama Farah said this during a media engagement session in Kano, commended the state government and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners for what he described as “remarkable progress” in interrupting the spread of circulating variant polioviruses (cVPV2).
Farah noted that Kano had recorded more than an 80 per cent reduction in poliovirus cases compared to 2024, with infections falling from 17 affected LGAs last year to just three confirmed and two pending cases in 2025.
“We are here to engage the media on the forthcoming polio vaccination campaign scheduled to commence on Saturday, 29th November — the last in the year,” he said.
“Kano has made substantial progress. With sustained government effort and partner collaboration, the state has achieved more than an 80% reduction in cases. This is remarkable,“ Farah added.
Highlighting the essential role of the media, particularly radio stations, in raising awareness in remote communities with limited access to electricity and television, Farah said, “We need these messages to get across to communities distant from services. In Nigeria, 42 million children will be targeted during this round across 21 priority states.”
Addressing a sensitisation session, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) Zonal Director for the North West, Dr Kabiru Muhammed, represented by the Kano State Coordinator, Maryam Umar said influencers play a critical role in shaping public attitudes towards immunisation.
“Our voices are powerful tools for disseminating information and building the trust required for parents to bring their children for vaccination.
“This is where your creativity and influence become invaluable,” he said.
“With your support, we can build stronger, healthier communities and ensure that no child is left behind,” Farah added.
A representative of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board reaffirmed the state’s readiness for a smooth rollout, expressing appreciation to UNICEF and development partners for their continued support.
He disclosed that the campaign would adopt a house-to-house strategy, supported by fixed vaccination posts at mosques, churches, markets, schools and health facilities.
“We are targeting almost 3.9 million children between 0 and 59 months. Beyond polio, we will integrate routine immunisation services, including HPV and other antigens,” he said.