Presented at the Interfaith Preconference of the 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference by Sheik Dr. Hafiz Sani Abdullahi, Co-Chair Kano Interfaith Forum, as represented by Mallam Ahmad Tijjani.

1. Kano State Interfaith
Pre-ConferenCE UPDATE
6th Nigeria Family Planing Interfaith Pre-Conference
8th December, 2020

2. Background
• The role of religious leaders cannot be over emphasized
in a religious and culturally diverse state such as Kano.
• The activities of interfaith forum is gradually facilitating
understanding and acceptance of CBS in communities.
• Kano has a strong presence of interfaith forum on CBS.

3. Achievements
1. Over 340 religious leaders in Kano State have skill and
competence on CBS information and messaging across
44 LGAs
2. Over 100 publicly statements have been made by
religious leaders on CBS in Kano state.
3. About 1.2m people have been reached with CBS
messages through Jumaat prayers, Tafsir, church and
fellowships.
4. Sensitizations in mosques and churches including
Sermons on child birth spacing across the state
(approximtely 420 mosques, 157 churches).
5. 5 influencers religious ecorated CBS Champions in the
states
6. Key activities of the interfaith have been integrated in
the state Government strategic development-AoP and
CIP
7. Religious leader have featured in over 20 radio live
programs across the state

4. Key Learning
• Understanding CBS from the various religious
sects promote right framing of messaging
and acceptability of CBS program in Kano.
• Government recognition of the roles and
importance of religious leaders in
implementing a sustained family program in
Kano state.
• Leveraging on other health programs to
sustain CBS information and messages in
communities learning from COVID-19

5. Challenges
• Strong misconception of the term family planning in some community
• Stock out of commodities especially the LARC affect activities of the interfaith
• Inadequate funding supporting for the interfaith
• The fear of side effects by women and partners
• Low level of basic education/contraceptive decision

6. “Instead of having many children, why not have the ones you can cater for? These
are the fundamental questions we should ask ourselves. Most of these children
roaming about the streets will be adult in the next 20 years and they will be the ones
recruited as political thugs by the politicians in the next twenty years, if we don’t take
good care of them now. This is my own advice that we must look at. These are not
religious issues, they are social issues that need to be addressed”------Muhammadu
Sunusi II (Former Emir of Kano)
Conclusion

7. Thank You