The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced an initiative to reach an estimated 2.2 million unvaccinated children across Nigeria, in a bid to close the country’s immunisation gap.
The programme, supported by the Republic of Korea, was unveiled on Thursday at a flag-off ceremony in Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos State. The event brought together government officials, development partners, traditional leaders, and community members committed to improving child health outcomes.
Speaking at the ceremony, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, described the initiative as more than a programme launch. She said it represented a shared political and moral commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to life-saving vaccines.
According to Ms Saeed, Nigeria currently has one of the highest numbers of ‘zero-dose’ children globally—those who have never received a single routine vaccine. Many live in underserved communities, including remote, border, and conflict-affected areas.
She noted that the challenge is not a failure of science, as vaccines are proven to work, but rather persistent issues related to access, equity, and gaps in service delivery. These, she said, require strong leadership and sustained partnerships to address.
Ms Saeed commended the federal government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and state health authorities for prioritising zero-dose children through targeted interventions in high-burden communities.
The Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Lagos, Lee Sang Ho, highlighted his country’s commitment through the UNICEF–Korea global partnership under the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). He disclosed that out of a $20 million budget for the third phase of the global project, $5.6 million has been allocated to Nigeria for implementation between December 2025 and December 2026. The funding will focus on 40 local government areas across Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, represented by Temitope Alor, said the initiative came at a critical time, as rapid urbanisation had increasingly strained access to healthcare. Mr Abayomi noted that zero-dose and under-immunised children remain a health challenge, especially within densely populated and underserved communities across the state, where access to routine immunisation services remains limited.
“This programme will deploy data-driven strategies, strengthen frontline health workers, and expand equitable access to immunisation, reflecting our commitment to inclusive growth where no child is left behind ever,” he added.
Stakeholders at the event stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on sustained collaboration, community trust, and the ability to build resilient health systems that continue to reach every child long after the current investment cycle ends.