Zamfara State has certified 710 auxiliary social workers and unveiled new Family Court Rules and Alternative Care Guidelines for Children as part of efforts to strengthen child protection and improve access to social welfare services.
The initiatives were announced at a graduation and certification ceremony held at Dr Garba Nadama Hall in Gusau, according to the state Ministry of Women, Children and Social Development Affairs.
The commissioner, Aisha M.Z. Anka, said the measures would strengthen community-based protection systems and improve support for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
She commended Governor Dauda Lawal for supporting the rebuilding of the state’s social service system, particularly through the settlement of outstanding counterpart funding obligations that helped restore partnerships with development organisations, including UNICEF and UNFPA.
Anka said the government’s support for the ministry’s working environment, alongside the recruitment and training of auxiliary social workers, demonstrated its commitment to improving service delivery.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, UNICEF and the Federal University Gusau to the training programme.
The commissioner urged the newly certified workers to carry out their duties with honesty, empathy, confidentiality and professionalism.
She said they would be expected to identify protection concerns, assist vulnerable people and refer cases to appropriate services at the community level.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Nasiru Galadima Kaura, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of communities.
“This administration is supporting initiatives designed by the ministry with full financial support, provided they meet the needs of our communities,” he said.
The state Auxiliary Social Workers Coordinator and Director of Child Protection and Development, Farida Abdulrazak Adamu, said the workers had been trained to identify cases of child abuse, neglect and exploitation.
She added that they would also conduct community sensitisation campaigns to prevent abuse and improve awareness of child protection.
“We were professionally trained in identifying cases of child abuse, neglect and exploitation,” Adamu said, adding that the workers would adopt preventive approaches across communities and public spaces.
The state government said the initiatives were intended to strengthen grassroots protection mechanisms and improve the delivery of social services to vulnerable residents.
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