By Ehis Agbon
New York, September 2025 – When world leaders and global health advocates gathered for the “Goalkeepers 2030” event organized by the Gates Foundation on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), one theme dominated the discussions: ending child mortality by the year 2030.
Among those at the forum was Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, who used the platform to restate his administration’s resolve to drastically reduce preventable child and maternal deaths through investments in primary healthcare.
For Kaduna, the issue is not abstract. Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest child mortality rates globally, with UNICEF estimating that more than 850,000 children under the age of five die annually, largely from preventable causes such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, and complications at birth. In Kaduna State, poor access to health facilities, shortages of skilled personnel, and inadequate funding have historically worsened the crisis.
Global Action, Local Realities
At the event, Governor Sani rubbed shoulders with figures like Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation, and Pedro Sánchez, President of Spain. Their conversations, he revealed, revolved around the need for “collaboration, innovation, and resource mobilization” to tackle systemic health challenges.
But beyond the photo-ops and speeches, the question remains: how far can such high-level engagements trickle down to rural communities in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, or Kachia, where women still trek miles to access basic healthcare?
Kaduna has, in recent years, made notable attempts to improve maternal and child health. Expanded immunization campaigns, rehabilitation of primary health centers, and conditional cash transfers for women attending antenatal care are some of the strategies deployed. Yet, many rural facilities still lack essential drugs, clean water, and qualified staff.
Voices from the Ground
Maryam, a 27-year-old mother in rural Zaria, told this reporter that she lost her two-year-old son to severe diarrhea last year because “the nearest health center had no doctor, and the drugs they gave me didn’t work.” Stories like Maryam’s highlight the gap between policy intentions and everyday realities.
Health experts warn that unless Nigeria addresses systemic corruption, weak accountability, and inadequate budgetary allocations to health—currently below the 15% Abuja Declaration target—child mortality will remain stubbornly high.
The Global Spotlight
The Goalkeepers 2030 event shone a spotlight on leaders and organizations working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kaduna’s governor insists the state’s agenda is in lockstep with global commitments.
“For us in Kaduna, such partnerships bolster our resolve to build a peaceful and prosperous state where no community is left behind,” Sani said after the event.
The Road Ahead
Analysts argue that Kaduna’s challenge is less about political will and more about sustainability. “We have seen programs launched with fanfare but abandoned midway once funding dries up,” said Dr. Habiba Bello, a public health specialist based in Abuja. “What Kaduna needs is a long-term financing model and stronger accountability at the grassroots.”
As the world counts down to 2030, Kaduna’s success—or failure—will not only reflect on Governor Sani’s promises but also on Nigeria’s broader struggle to safeguard the lives of its youngest citizens.
