UNICEF, Partners Train Adamawa Stakeholders on leadership, governance to boost reproductive, adolescent health services

By Ojoma Akor

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Development Governance International (DGI) Consult, has commenced implementation of the capacity strengthening plan under the Enhancing Leadership, Governance and Management Capacities (ELGMC) Project with a three-day leadership, governance and management capacity-building workshop in Yola, Adamawa State.

The ELGMC Project, implemented by DGI Consult, is a component of the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) Project, jointly implemented by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

A statement from the ELGMC Project, signed by its Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist, Wole Alawode, said the SARAH Project is a four-year initiative funded by the European Union and being implemented in Adamawa, Kwara, and Sokoto States as part of UNICEF’s broader commitment to strengthening health systems and improving access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services in Nigeria.

Experts in the health sector have noted that while significant investments have been made over the years to improve health services, the effectiveness of these investments depends largely on the strength of the institutions responsible for planning, coordinating, managing and overseeing health programs.

The ELGMC Project was therefore designed to strengthen these institutional capacities and equip health leaders with the knowledge, tools and systems required to improve program implementation and ultimately deliver better health outcomes.

A comprehensive baseline assessment, conducted earlier this year across key health institutions in Adamawa, Sokoto and Kwara States, had identified critical leadership, governance and management gaps affecting RMNCAH+N and GBV programs. The assessment informed the development of an evidence-based capacity strengthening plan.

The three-day workshop in Yola is part of the organizational capacity strengthening plan, which combines competency-based training, practical management tools, systems strengthening, and structured mentoring to address the leadership, governance, and management gaps identified earlier.

Speaking during the event, Health Systems Specialist, Dr. Emmanuel Emedo, described leadership as one of the strongest determinants of health system performance.

He said, “It is important that health professionals understand how to lead because when we lead better, we deliver better results. Technical expertise alone is not enough. As health professionals assume greater leadership responsibilities, they must also develop the competencies required to strengthen institutions, manage resources effectively and improve health outcomes.”

Dr. Emedo highlighted that the initiative is particularly important at a time when governments are increasingly expected to take greater ownership of health programs amid the changing global development financing landscape.

He also applauded the progress already recorded by Adamawa State in strengthening its health system, noting that continued collaboration would help build stronger leadership capacity to sustain those gains.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of DGI Consult, Dr. Gafar Alawode, noted that while Adamawa State has made significant progress in reproductive, maternal and child health, persistent challenges in leadership, coordination, financing, and management systems continue to constrain program performance.

He explained that the project’s baseline assessment not only identified critical gaps but also documented existing strengths that provide a solid foundation for institutional improvement.

“This project is not just about conducting a training. It is about developing competent leaders and managers who can solve critical problems in the health sector, strengthen systems, optimize available resources, and ultimately improve access to quality healthcare.”

Dr. Gafar added that the project is designed to strengthen institutional capacity across all levels of the health system and expressed confidence that, with sustained commitment from government and partners, Adamawa State could become a model for health systems strengthening.

“Our ambition is to make Adamawa State a national example of what committed leadership at the state and local government levels can achieve in strengthening primary healthcare and improving health outcomes,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Adamawa State Ministry of Health, Pharm. Zirra Mathias Bubanani, who represented the Commissioner for Health, commended UNICEF and its partners for supporting institutional capacity strengthening in the state.

He enjoined participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop in their respective institutions while mentoring colleagues to strengthen leadership, governance, and management practices across the health sector.

The workshop was delivered through an interactive, competency-based, and solution-focused approach that encouraged participants to analyze real health system challenges, share experiences, and develop practical solutions for improving RMNCAH+N and GBV program performance in Adamawa State.

Following the successful completion of the workshop, stakeholders agreed on priority actions to sustain implementation of the capacity strengthening plan.

These include conducting facility-level cascade training across the three supported Local Government Areas; supporting the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency to develop an RMNCAH+N coordination framework and practical coordination tools; undertaking a Public Expenditure Review, costing and financial modeling for RMNCAH+N programs; developing a performance dashboard for tracking agreed indicators across supported health facilities, among others.

The implementation of these interventions is expected to strengthen institutional leadership, governance, and management systems; improve coordination and accountability; enhance evidence-based planning and resource management; and ultimately contribute to improved RMNCAH+N and GBV outcomes for women, children, adolescents, and communities across the state.

The workshop brought together senior government officials, program managers, local government representatives, heads of health institutions, development partners, and other key stakeholders.