By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has approved the implementation of a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey across the state which will start from June 19 to July 9, 2025, with the aim of generating comprehensive data to inform policy and drive targeted interventions in the fight against poverty.
The approval was given by the state Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto describing the initiative as a strategic partnership with Redwire Marketing Consulting.
The survey is designed to impose minimal financial burden on the government while maximizing the value of the data collected.
The MPI Survey will focus on critical areas such as education, healthcare, employment, standard of living, and access to essential services. By examining these indicators, the survey seeks to offer a holistic understanding of the poverty situation in Sokoto State, especially at the household level.
According to the Governor, the exercise aligns with his administration’s 9-Point Smart Agenda, particularly in the areas of security, economic development, education, healthcare, and youth empowerment. “This is a strategic move to address the root causes of deprivation with precise, data-driven policies,” he noted.
He said the survey will be conducted in line with international best practices for measuring poverty and inequality. It is expected to reveal not just income-related hardship but also other forms of deprivation affecting the wellbeing of Sokoto residents.
Speaking on the development, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Zayyana, the state commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said the MPI Survey is part of a broader reform agenda spearheaded by the State Bureau of Statistics.
He said that the goal is to institutionalize reliable and timely data as a bedrock for socioeconomic planning.
Also Speaking the State Statistician General Abdullahi Abdulrahman Shagari, said that the bureau has been repositioned to deliver relevant and actionable statistics such as those expected from this MPI Survey to guide inclusive policy formulation and effective service delivery
The survey is expected to be a turning point in Sokoto State’s developmental planning, offering a detailed roadmap for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment.