Kano Youth Champions Development initiative

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2026
1st – 7th August, 2026

Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI) proudly joins the global community in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2026, with the theme:

“Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival, maternal health, and family well-being. It provides optimal nutrition, strengthens immunity, promotes healthy growth and development, and contributes to better health outcomes for both mothers and children.

As we mark this important week, we call on government institutions, healthcare providers, community leaders, families, employers, and development partners to strengthen policies and support systems that enable every mother to initiate breastfeeding early, practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding.

At KYCDI, we remain committed to promoting maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health through community engagement, health education, and sustainable public health interventions.

Together, let us protect, promote, and support breastfeeding for a healthier generation and a stronger future.

Strong Support Today, A Healthier Tomorrow.

🛑 Faith in Action: Empowering Communities for Safe Motherhood Through Faith Based Messaging

As part of the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Faith Based Messaging session during the Juma'at Prayer at Makuntiri Central Mosque, Makuntiri Community, Gafan Ward, Bunkure Local Government Area.

The sermon, delivered by Sheikh Malam Yusuf Makunturi, reached an estimated 1,662 worshippers comprising 1,381 males and 281 females. The sermon emphasized the importance of Antenatal Care (ANC), Facility Delivery, Birth Preparedness, and Emergency Transport Planning, highlighting these practices as essential steps in protecting the lives and wellbeing of mothers and newborns.

Drawing from Islamic teachings, the Sheikh encouraged husbands, families, and the wider community to embrace their shared responsibility in supporting pregnant women, preparing for childbirth, and ensuring timely access to skilled maternal healthcare services. He also challenged harmful beliefs and social norms that contribute to delays in seeking care, calling on community members to become advocates for healthier families and positive social norm change.

The remarkable turnout and active engagement of worshippers demonstrate the vital role of faith leaders in promoting life-saving health messages and strengthening community ownership of maternal and newborn health interventions.

Together, we remain committed to ensuring that no settlement, no community, no ward, and no Local Government Area is left behind in advancing safe motherhood, strengthening referral linkages, and promoting sustainable positive social norm change.




Faith and Cultural Champions

📍 Every Conversation Counts: Strengthening Communities Through Myth Clarification and Referral Linkages.

As part of the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Community Engagement on Myth Clarification and Referral Linkage in Chinkoso Ward, Madobi Local Government Area on Sunday 19/07/2026.

The engagement brought together 149 participants, comprising 74 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), 73 Mothers in law (Reference Groups), and 2 Community Influencers, to address common myths and misconceptions surrounding Child Birth Spacing, promote its benefits for family wellbeing, and strengthen referral linkages to Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities for counselling and Child Birth Spacing services.

The session provided an interactive platform for participants to openly discuss prevailing misconceptions, ask questions, and share personal experiences. A powerful testimony from Ummailkhairi Lawan, a young mother, highlighted how delayed decisions to seek skilled maternal healthcare during her previous pregnancies resulted in serious complications. Inspired by the dialogue, she pledged to become a community advocate, encouraging women to attend Antenatal Care (ANC), utilize Facility Delivery services, and champion positive social norms within her community.

Malama Daharatu, an Islamiyya teacher, also reaffirmed her commitment to using her influence to dispel harmful myths and promote accurate information on Child Birth Spacing through community and religious platforms.
The commitments demonstrated by participants reaffirm the growing community ownership of the FCC Project and our shared vision of ensuring that every settlement, every community, every ward, and every Local Government Area is reached with accurate information, strengthened referral systems, and sustainable positive social norm change for improved maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

Together, we are empowering communities, strengthening referral linkages, and building local champions for healthier families and a brighter future.



Faith and Cultural Champions

No Community Left Behind: Advancing Shared Responsibility for Safe Motherhood Through Community Dialogue.

As part of the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Community Engagement Dialogue Session at Cirin Gidan Dagaci, Chirin Ward, Bunkure Local Government Area today, bringing together 58 participants (52 females and 6 males), including Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), husbands, reference groups, young religious influencers, and community influencers.

The dialogue focused on strengthening shared responsibility for safe motherhood, Antenatal Care (ANC), Birth Preparedness, Facility Delivery, and Emergency Transport Planning while addressing harmful social norms that prevent women from accessing essential maternal health services. Participants actively engaged in meaningful discussions, asked questions, shared personal experiences, and committed to promoting positive behavioural change within their communities.

A particularly moving moment was the testimony of a husband who shared how refusing his wife access to ANC and Facility Delivery during her first pregnancy resulted in devastating consequences. His story inspired participants and reinforced the importance of timely maternal healthcare. By the end of the session, he pledged to become a community advocate, encouraging other men to support their wives in accessing quality maternal health services.

The commitments demonstrated by participants reaffirm the FCC Project's vision of ensuring that no settlement, no community, no ward, and no Local Government Area is left behind in promoting healthier families and sustainable positive social norm change.


Faith and Cultural Champions

📌📌Every Woman Empowered, Every Family Informed, Every Community Transformed.📌📌

As part of the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Community Engagement through Peer Discussion Circles with married Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) at Government Girls Secondary School, Gwamma Ward, Bunkure Local Government Area.

The engagement focused on building the confidence of married AGYW to initiate discussions on Child Birth Spacing with their husbands, while addressing common myths and misconceptions through evidence-based information and Islamic perspectives.

Participants also received guidance on accessing counselling and referral services through Primary Health Care facilities.

A major highlight of the session was the valuable contribution of Malama Hasiya Hamisu, Head Teacher of Madrasatul Qur'an, Gwamma, who provided insightful explanations on the Islamic perspective of Child Birth Spacing, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of mothers and children.
Participants demonstrated strong commitment to sustaining the project's impact.

Fatima Anas pledged to cascade the knowledge through community platforms such as Gidan Suna and Dandalin Zaman Cikin Gida, while Naja'atu Buhari volunteered to serve as a community champion, committing to mobilize households across Gwamma Ward so that accurate information reaches every family.
The session reaffirmed the power of community-led dialogue in promoting healthier families, strengthening referral linkages, and transforming harmful social norms through locally driven action.

Together, we remain committed to ensuring that no settlement, no community, no ward, and no Local Government Area is left behind in advancing healthier families and stronger communities.

📍 No Community Left Behind: Reaching Underserved Communities with Accurate Information, Strengthening Referral Linkages, and Promoting Positive Social Norm Change.

As part of the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Community Engagement on Myth Clarification and Referral Linkage at Zuga Kudu Islamiya Primary School, Zuga Ward, Takai Local Government Area.

The engagement brought together community members, women, Reference group, and Adolescents girls and young women to address common myths and misconceptions surrounding Child Birth Spacing while strengthening referral linkages to Primary Health Care facilities. Through interactive discussions, participants gained accurate, evidence based information on the health and wellbeing benefits of Child Birth Spacing and the importance of seeking counselling and services from qualified healthcare providers.

A key highlight of the session was the inspiring commitments shared by Malama Maijidda Haruna Sulaiman, Head of Madrasatul Islamiya, Zuga Kudu, who pledged to continue educating women and girls within her community using the knowledge gained through the FCC Project.

Fatima Muhammad, a Married Adolescent Girl and Young Woman (AGYW), also shared a powerful testimony on how the session had transformed her understanding of Child Birth Spacing and encouraged her to become an advocate for accurate information among her peers.

The activity reaffirmed that sustainable change begins with informed communities. By equipping local influencers and community members with accurate knowledge, strengthening referral pathways, and encouraging open dialogue, the FCC Project continues to foster healthier families and positive social norms change across underserved communities.

Together, we remain committed to ensuring that every settlement, every community, every ward, and every Local Government Area is reached with life saving information that empowers families to make informed decisions for better maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.

Happy

Let’s stand together to break barriers, promote equity, and nurture communities where every family can thrive in a sustainable and inclusive world.

KYCDI Participates in the Graduation Ceremony of the First Cohort (1) and Unveiling of the Second Cohort (2) of the National Health Fellows

Today, Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), under the leadership of our Executive Director, Abdulkadir Musa Gaya, proudly participated in the graduation ceremony of the first cohort and the unveiling of the second cohort of the National Health Fellows. The event was organized by the Kano State Ministry of Health and attended by the KYCDI State Team alongside our 44 LGA Coordinators (Super Youth Champions), making a total delegation of 50 participants.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Pharm. Aminu Bashir, emphasized the critical role of strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery as a strategic approach to reducing maternal and child mortality and improving health outcomes across Kano State.

During his keynote address, the Director General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Agency, Prof. Salisu Ibrahim, reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing key health sector challenges. He highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality, improve routine immunization coverage, eliminate zero dose children, and further strengthen the state's primary healthcare system.

In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, congratulated the graduating National Health Fellows and warmly welcomed the newly inducted second cohort. He encouraged them to apply their knowledge, skills, and commitment towards advancing quality healthcare delivery and supporting the achievement of better health outcomes for the people of Kano State.

KYCDI remains committed to collaborating with government institutions, development partners, and community stakeholders to strengthen the health system, promote community engagement, and contribute to sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery across all 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.

May Allah (SWT) continue to guide our collective efforts as we work together towards a healthier and more prosperous Kano State.

Ameen.

🎉 Happy Birthday to Our Program Officer, Sadiq Mustapha Alhassan! 🎉

Today, we celebrate a dedicated leader whose commitment, professionalism, and passion have continued to strengthen the implementation of the Faith & Cultural Champions (FCC) Project and advance the mission of Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI).

Your unwavering dedication to improving maternal, newborn, and child health, empowering communities, and inspiring positive social change is truly commendable.

We appreciate your tireless service, leadership, and the positive impact you continue to make across the communities we serve.

On behalf of the KYCDI family, we wish you good health, abundant wisdom, greater accomplishments, and Allah's continued guidance and blessings in the years ahead.

Happy Birthday, Sadiq Mustapha Alhassan!
Wishing you many more years of impactful service and success. 🎂🎉

📌📌No Settlement Left Behind: The FCC Project is Bringing Positive Social Norm Change to Every Community, Every Ward, and Every LGA📌📌

As part of the Faith & Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, today Kano Youth Champions Development Initiative (KYCDI), with support from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), successfully conducted a Community Engagement Dialogue in Unguwar fako Community, Madobi Ward, Madobi Local Government Area, Kano State.

The dialogue brought together community leaders, husbands, women, youth, and other key stakeholders to promote the importance of completing eight Antenatal Care (ANC) contacts, facility delivery, healthy child birth spacing, and emergency transport planning. The session also addressed harmful social norms and encouraged collective responsibility for improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

A key highlight was the commitment of the Village Head of Unguwar fako, Alhaji Abdullrashid Abdu, who pledged to champion these life saving messages within the community and ensure they are cascaded to every household. Participants also expressed appreciation for the FCC Project and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting positive health behaviours that will contribute to healthier mothers, newborns, and families.