The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his transformative leadership, describing his administration’s massive investments in education, primary healthcare, and infrastructure as a turning point for the state. The praise came during the signing ceremony of the UNICEF/Enugu Government Multiyear 2025–2027 Workplan at the Government House in Enugu.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, lauded Mbah’s commitment to improving the lives of children and women, noting his significant strides in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
“You are the pioneer of smart schools here. Enugu is one of the states that is leading in terms of the WASH masterplan implementation. Your investment in primary health, upgrading the primary healthcare system to Level 2 is something that is very highly commendable and also the smart schools, which show your commitment to the development of human indices in the state,” Chiluwe stated.
Reflecting on her time in Enugu, she highlighted the visible transformation under Mbah’s leadership.
“I have been in Enugu for the last three years and I have seen commendable changes in terms of infrastructure, security, and the welfare of women and children. Your footprint in the infrastructural development of the state and the deliberate efforts in boosting the state’s economy demonstrate your commitment to the viability and achievement of the long-term vision. Your interest and commitment to issues of children and women in the state is highly commendable and a sign of the anticipated progress in collaborating with UNICEF towards the improvement in children indices in the state,” she added.
Chiluwe stressed that the signing of the multiyear plan reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working with the Enugu government to advance the rights of children and women under the ongoing Country Programme of Cooperation, which began in 2023 and will run until 2027. She also urged all stakeholders, including local governments, to intensify efforts in achieving open defecation-free (ODF) status and ensuring the effective delivery of the social protection policy to eradicate poverty.
In response, Governor Mbah expressed gratitude for UNICEF’s continued partnership and support, emphasizing his administration’s dedication to addressing social challenges. He highlighted the state’s prioritization of the social services sector, reflected in the significant budget allocations over the past two years.
“Education got 33 percent, and that has been consistent over the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles. The healthcare space is not left out of it. We also have plans that this is going to continue for at least the next five years for things to be well rooted before we feel like we’re starting from ground zero even in terms of the baseline of infrastructure,” Mbah said.
He detailed the administration’s ambitious plans, including the establishment of 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centers across all electoral wards. Many of these centers, he noted, had already been completed and equipped with cutting-edge medical facilities, round-the-clock electricity, and adequate staffing. Recognizing the initial shortage of health personnel, he revealed that the administration had approved the recruitment of 2,500 health workers upon assuming office.
On education, Mbah reiterated his commitment to launching the Smart Green Schools initiative in September 2025, which will provide over 300,000 school children with access to healthcare facilities, a free daily balanced diet, and a healthy learning environment.
Beyond education and healthcare, the governor underscored his administration’s broader vision for improving living conditions, particularly through the ongoing first phase of a 7,500-unit mass housing scheme aimed at relocating residents of urban slums and eliminating open defecation.
With these initiatives, Mbah reaffirmed his government’s determination to transform Enugu into a model of sustainable development, ensuring that every citizen has access to quality education, healthcare, and a dignified living environment.
