(Concise & Media-Friendly):Self Help Africa Secures Kano Government Support During High-Level Oversight Visit
Self Help Africa (SHA), an international development organisation headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, has successfully concluded a high-level oversight visit to Kano State, led by its Board Chair, Engr. Sulaiman Adamu, former Honourable Minister of Water Resources.
Self Help Africa operates across 17 countries and is committed to advancing sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives for all in the context of a changing climate. Its mission is to address hunger, poverty, social inequality, and the impacts of climate change through community-led, market-based, and enterprise-focused approaches that promote access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment, and sustainable incomes, while safeguarding natural resources.
The organisation has been operational in Nigeria for over 25 years—initially as Concern Universal and subsequently as United Purpose—implementing innovative development programmes focused on agriculture and food systems, climate adaptation, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management, market systems development, business support services, and sustainable landscape management. Its interventions have reached nearly 4,000 communities across Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
In Kano State, Self Help Africa is currently implementing the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Systems Strengthening (WS4H) Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as part of a broader initiative across Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The organisation is also implementing the Youth in Work Project, funded by the World Food Programme (WFP), which focuses on livelihoods and entrepreneurship development by strengthening food systems and promoting value-chain employment opportunities for youth and women. The project targets over 28,000 small businesses across seven Local Government Areas in the State.
As part of the visit, the Self Help Africa delegation—led by Engr. Sulaiman Adamu and accompanied by the Country Director—paid a courtesy and oversight visit to the Kano State Government. A high-level meeting was held and chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim.
The meeting was attended by Honourable Commissioners from key Ministries, including Water Resources; Planning and Budget; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; and Community and Rural Development, as well as the Managing Director of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA). Also present was the Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Memota.
During the engagement, the delegation provided updates on ongoing projects and discussed opportunities for deepening collaboration to strengthen service delivery, sustainability, and impact across Kano State.
In his remarks, the SSG, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to supporting Self Help Africa’s interventions and pledged the government’s cooperation whenever needed to ensure the success of development programmes in the State.
The visit underscores Self Help Africa’s commitment to accountability, partnership, and constructive engagement with government stakeholders to advance inclusive and sustainable development outcomes for communities in Kano State.
Musa Tanko Muhammad
Press Secretary,
Office of the SSG,
Kano.
19/01/2026
