Media Engagement Launched to Promote SARMAAN Initiative Nationwide

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The SARMAAN Advocacy Project Team has called for strategic collaboration with media organisations across Nigeria to promote awareness and drive government ownership of the SARMAAN child survival initiative.

Speaking during a media sensitization engagement held on February 17, 2026, Ikechukwu Ofuani, the Project Lead, SARMAAN Advocacy Project Team introduced SARMAAN II and outlined its mission to strengthen the foundation for the long-term success of the REACH programme in Nigeria.

The SARMAAN Advocacy Project Team is a consortium of advocacy and communications partners working collectively to position SARMAAN as a country-owned, sustainable, and integrated child survival intervention. Ikechukwu Ufuani emphasised that the initiative is backed by clear policy direction, strong communication strategies, robust evidence, and coordinated knowledge management efforts.

According to the Project Lead, key objectives of the project include advocating for government ownership of SARMAAN, supporting its integration into Nigeria’s Child Survival Action Plan, securing sustainable domestic financing for child survival interventions, and leveraging strategic communication to amplify the project’s impact at both national and sub-national levels.

The advocacy group noted that the purpose of the media engagement is to onboard strategic partners in the media to drive the narrative of the SARMAAN initiative for widespread awareness. It also aims to promote evidence-based advocacy, eliminate misinformation, and ensure alignment of messaging across platforms for consistent and accurate reporting.

The team stressed that the media plays a critical role in shaping public discourse and influencing policy direction. It urged journalists not only to report figures but to highlight the tangible impact of the SARMAAN initiative on the Nigerian child, while advocating for its prioritisation within the country’s health and child survival framework.

The engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration between stakeholders and the media in setting the agenda for improved child survival outcomes in Nigeria.