The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III has called for stronger interfaith cooperation as a key to addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Abubakar made the call at a two-day engagement meeting with religious leaders from Northern Nigeria in Abuja, organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, with support from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The Sultan emphasised the importance of working across religious lines for the country’s progress, stressing that both Christians and Muslims must unite to ensure peace, security and healthcare for all Nigerians.
He clarified the role of the Sultan Foundation, noting that it was not his personal foundation but a collective effort aimed at fostering development.
“This foundation belongs to all Nigerian Muslims and we work with Christians and other faiths to address issues affecting our country,” he said.
The Sultan also highlighted past successes in collaboration with global partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the fight against polio, crediting joint efforts for Nigeria’s certification as polio-free.
Reflecting on broader challenges facing Nigeria, including security and healthcare, the Sultan stressed that without these two critical pillars, other aspects of national progress would be hindered.
He urged religious leaders to use their influence to promote vaccination and improve public health education, describing it as a moral obligation to support the well-being of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs.
The Sultan invited religious groups to work with the foundation to ensure that interfaith efforts remain a strong vehicle for Nigeria’s development.
Executive director of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina emphasised the critical role religious leaders play in promoting vaccination, maternal, and child health.
Aina, who was represented by the director of advocacy & communications at NPHCDA, Mr. Ladan Aliyu called for collective action to overcome challenges in public health, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He noted the influence of spiritual leaders in dispelling myths, correcting misinformation, and encouraging positive health-seeking behaviours within their communities.
“Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, crucial for preventing diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus. However, the success of immunisation efforts relies on public trust, which religious leaders can help build,” he said.
He emphasised the link between women’s and children’s health and the overall health of the nation.
Aino also highlighted high maternal and child mortality rates in northern Nigeria, attributing many deaths to preventable diseases and lack of access to care.
He appealed to religious leaders to recommit to promoting equitable access to healthcare services, ensuring that no mother or child is left behind and breaking down barriers to care, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Senior programme officer at the Gates Foundation, Dr. Sam Okiror underscored the importance of integrating maternal, newborn and child nutrition and health.
Okiror emphasised that addressing key drivers of maternal and child deaths could reduce maternal mortality rates by six to eight per cent by 2030.
He referenced a recent trial in Nigeria that reduced maternal mortality by 60 per cent through better management of postpartum bleeding, illustrating the potential impact of innovative maternal and neonatal health interventions.
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo highlighted the critical role religious leaders play in driving health interventions and supporting the fight against diseases like polio, tuberculosis (TB) and vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Mulombo, represented by the office-in-charge at WHO, Dr. Mary Nana-Ama emphasised that collaboration is essential for strengthening primary healthcare and achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
He commended key figures such as the Sultan of Sokoto and the Emir of Argungu for their commitment to improving health outcomes and praised the Minister of Health for efforts to synchronise campaigns across the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel countries.
Mulombo also acknowledged challenges, such as the low uptake of antenatal services, the large number of zero-dose children (2.1 million unvaccinated) and issues like data concealment and fake finger markings that hinder vaccination efforts.
He highlighted progress in addressing the circulating variant poliovirus type 2, with 73 cases reported as of September 2024 and noted improvements in vaccination activities despite global vaccine supply constraints.
Mulombo urged religious leaders to continue advocating for reducing immunity gaps, increasing health facility deliveries and supporting the “Big Catch-up Campaign” for immunisation recovery.
Chief of public health at UNICEF, Dr. Eduardo Celades underscored the significance of working closely with religious leaders, recognising that this partnership should be continually nurtured.
Celades shared UNICEF’s core values, encapsulated in the acronym CRITAS—care, respect, integrity, transparency, accountability and sustainability—highlighting the shared ethical foundation between UNICEF and religious leaders.
He stressed the importance of working together to combat vaccine hesitancy and non-compliance during the upcoming polio campaign in 10 states to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
Addressing zero-dose children, he called for collective action to reduce the number of children who have not received any vaccines.
“Nigeria currently has over two million zero-dose children, contributing to disease outbreaks like measles and cholera,” he said.
Celades also stressed the need to address gaps in antenatal care and facility-based deliveries, noting that many Nigerian women do not return for the recommended four antenatal visits or deliver in health facilities, posing risks to both maternal and child health.
In recognition of achievements in health campaigns, the chairman of the NTLC and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera highlighted successes in polio vaccination and immunisation in northern Nigeria since 2009.
Mera called for sustained efforts, particularly against the new threat of circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (cVDPV2) and emphasised the need to address the “alarming and unacceptable” maternal health and child mortality rates in the region.
He set the agenda for the conference, urging participants to develop strategies to tackle these pressing health issues and better communicate the importance of healthcare services to the population.
He encouraged religious leaders and stakeholders to convey the conference’s messages to their congregations and communities, using various media platforms to educate and create demand for health services.
