PROF. ALI AHMAD CONDEMNS UNICEF’S DOWNGRADE OF KWARA, DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON CHILD WELFARE CRISIS
Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Ali Ahmad, has expressed deep concern and outrage over the recent downgrade of Kwara State by UNICEF due to an alarming spike in child malnutrition, describing the development as a tragic reversal of past progress.
In an official letter dated May 2025 (Ref: UNICEF/KD/ZD/2025/05), the UNICEF Zone D Kaduna Office reported that over 300,000 children in Kwara are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition, requiring urgent life-saving intervention. Prof. Ahmad called the figures “a damning verdict on the state government’s failure to uphold its responsibility to protect the most vulnerable.”
“This is not just a statistic; it is a humanitarian emergency. These are real children whose lives are at risk due to negligence, poor governance, and misplaced priorities,” Prof. Ahmad stated. “It is unconscionable that a state once recognized as ‘Fit for a Child’ by UNICEF in 2010 has now plunged into a state of emergency over child nutrition.”
He recalled the strides made under previous administrations, particularly during his tenure as Speaker and under Governor Bukola Saraki’s leadership, when Kwara domesticated the Child Rights Act and implemented policies that significantly improved child welfare.
“Kwara earned accolades then because we made children a priority. We invested in preventive healthcare, education, and nutrition. Today’s tragedy is a result of the current administration’s disregard for these foundational principles,” he added.
Prof. Ahmad emphasized the urgent need for the Kwara State Government to take immediate corrective measures, including the procurement and equitable distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), provision of basic healthcare services, and a comprehensive review of child welfare programs.
“Our children deserve better. They deserve swift government intervention, sustainable health policies, and a leadership that places their future above politics.”
He further called on civil society organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to demand transparency and accountability from those in power.
“This is not the time for silence or indifference. We must all raise our voices to ensure that no child in Kwara is left to suffer due to the failures of leadership.”
Prof. Ahmad concluded with a heartfelt prayer for the swift recovery of the affected children and urged the government to treat this crisis with the urgency and sincerity it demands.
“Kwara’s future is tied to the wellbeing of its children. Let this crisis awaken our collective conscience and spark a new era of responsible, compassionate governance.”
Signed:
Sa’ad Ayinde
Media Assistant,
Prof. Ali Ahmad,
Former Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly