By Ibrahim Sani
The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR), and the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), has restated its commitment to strengthening the Community Reorientation Women Network (CRoWN) as a sustainable, community-owned platform for improving health outcomes and empowering women across the state.
The commitment was made during the 2026 CRoWN Stakeholder Convening held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi, which brought together government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, health professionals, and hundreds of CRoWN Ambassadors from across the state to celebrate achievements, review programme progress, strengthen partnerships, and promote sustainable economic empowerment for community volunteers.
The event was attended by the Wife of the Bauchi State Governor and Chairperson of the Almuhibba Foundation, Hajiya Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed; the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Dr. Zouera Youssoufou, who delivered her address virtually; the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam; the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed; the Emir of Dass and Chairman of the Bauchi State Emirate Councils Committee on Health (BASECCOH), Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman; the District Head of Konkiyel, Alhaji Sulaiman Magaji Abdulkadir; representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Solina, development partners, traditional institutions, women’s groups, and community leaders.
Delivering the welcome address, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, described CRoWN as one of the state’s most successful community engagement models, noting that the initiative has strengthened trust between communities and the health system while complementing government efforts to improve routine immunization, maternal and child health, nutrition, and other primary healthcare services.
He said the annual convening provides an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of CRoWN Ambassadors, assess programme achievements, deepen partnerships, and chart a stronger path towards sustainable, community-owned development.
In her keynote address, Hajiya Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed commended the commitment and selfless service of CRoWN Ambassadors, describing them as the bridge between health facilities and communities. She noted that by encouraging antenatal care attendance, routine immunization, skilled delivery, child nutrition, and healthy behaviours, the women volunteers have contributed significantly to improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and children across Bauchi State.
The First Lady reaffirmed the commitment of the Almuhibba Foundation to supporting community-based development through medical outreaches, maternal and child health interventions, girls’ education, prevention of Gender-Based Violence, and women’s economic empowerment. She emphasized that healthy, educated, protected, and economically empowered women remain the foundation of sustainable community development, while calling on development partners and the private sector to continue investing in CRoWN as a resilient and self-sustaining platform for community transformation.
Speaking virtually from abroad, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Dr. Zouera Youssoufou, described CRoWN as a model of successful community-led development, stressing that lasting improvements in health and social outcomes can only be achieved through strong community ownership, trusted local leadership, and effective partnerships.
She disclosed that Bauchi State, where the CRoWN model was first established, now has 622 CRoWN Ambassadors serving 211 settlements, while the initiative has expanded to more than 7,900 ambassadors, reaching over 900,000 households across ten northern Nigerian states, including border communities in Niger and Chad.
Dr. Youssoufou commended the Bauchi State Government, traditional institutions, women groups, community volunteers, and development partners for their unwavering support, urging stakeholders to institutionalize CRoWN as a broader platform for community development, strengthen community-led data reporting systems, and sustain the remarkable gains already recorded.
Speaking, Dr. Rihanna Ibrahim, Solina Principal Head, spoke on behalf of the CEO of the Solina Centre for International Development and Research, Dr. Uchenna Obekwe, appreciate the Bauchi State Government for taking the lead of the Community Reorientation Women Network, especially leadership of BSPHCB Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, for doing everything humanly possible for the success of CRoWN initiatives.
She said CRoWN started in Bauchi but has now reached and expanded to other states, including Niger and the Chad Republic. She pointed out that the purpose of the CRoWN Stakeholder Convening was to provide a progress update on implementation, share what was learned and its principles, highlight CRoWN’s community impact, and discuss how to move the initiative forward.
According to her, the purpose of this convening was principally to showcase CRoWN as a credible model for demand generation and community development in a dignified way, with social and economic security for women and their families.
It also aimed to celebrate the breakthroughs of our CRoWN ambassadors with the First Lady, stakeholders, and traditional leaders, where everyone could see vividly their community impact and economic empowerment, as women with the capacity to change their society through health and skills initiatives.
In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to community-centred healthcare, noting that while government continues to invest in health infrastructure and commodities, sustainable progress depends on informed and engaged communities.
He said CRoWN has become an indispensable partner in generating demand for essential health services, increasing immunization uptake, improving antenatal care attendance, strengthening referrals, and enhancing accountability within the health system. He assured participants that community engagement would remain a central pillar of the state’s health agenda.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the traditional institutions, the Emir of Dass and Chairman of BASECCOH, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, described CRoWN as one of Bauchi State’s proudest examples of community ownership.
He recalled that the initiative was inspired by a landmark study conducted in Konkiyel Community of Dass Local Government Area by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Solina, and the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, which demonstrated that trusted women within communities are highly effective agents of positive behaviour change.
According to the Emir, the evidence generated from Konkiyel has evolved into a successful movement that continues to transform maternal and child health across Bauchi State and beyond.
The Emir reaffirmed the commitment of traditional institutions to preserve the legacy of CRoWN by ensuring stronger community ownership, continuous support for CRoWN Ambassadors, integration of community health discussions into traditional leadership structures, promotion of volunteerism, and collaboration with government and development partners to sustain the initiative for future generations.
Speaking on behalf of community leadership, the District Head of Konkiyel, Alhaji Sulaiman Magaji Abdulkadir, reflected on the community’s pioneering role in the development of the CRoWN model, expressing pride that an initiative which began in Konkiyel has today expanded across northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
He encouraged community leaders to continue supporting women volunteers whose commitment has strengthened trust in health services and improved the wellbeing of families.
The event also featured goodwill messages from representatives of WHO, NPHCDA, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and Solina, all of whom commended Bauchi State for institutionalizing community-led health interventions and pledged continued collaboration to strengthen CRoWN and expand its impact.
One of the major highlights of the convening was the Economic Empowerment Exhibition, where CRoWN Ambassadors showcased locally produced goods, agricultural products, food items, crafts, and small businesses established through community empowerment initiatives. Participants also enjoyed colourful cultural dance performances that reflected the rich heritage of Bauchi State and celebrated the role of women as agents of positive change within their communities.
The Community Reorientation Women Network (CRoWN) is a women-led, community-owned and self-sustaining grassroots platform implemented by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) in partnership with state governments and development partners.
The initiative empowers trusted women as Community Ambassadors to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, education, economic empowerment, and other essential social services while building stronger and more resilient communities.
Leave a Comment