By Balarabe Musa | Kano, Nigeria
In Kano, one of northern Nigeria’s most influential religious and cultural centers, a new wave of faith-driven advocacy is reshaping public health. Prominent Islamic scholars and clerics have stepped forward to publicly endorse the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, an unprecedented show of unity in defense of mothers, children, and future generations.
The initiative, coordinated by the Centre for Wellbeing and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS) in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Kano State Ministry of Health, and other development partners, aims to bridge the gap between faith and science by empowering religious leaders to champion vaccine confidence across communities.
“Protecting children is an act of faith and service to humanity. The Measles-Rubella vaccine is not just medicine, it is a shield for our future,” — Dr. Hafizu Sani Abdullahi, Co-Chair, Kano Interfaith Forum on Health.
When Faith and Public Health Align
Facilitated by Dr. Musa Abdullahi Sufi under the guidance of Dr. Kabir Mustapha, North-West Coordinator C-WINS, the engagement has brought together some of Kano’s most respected religious figures.
Among those lending their voices are Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Adam, Chief Imam of Kofar Mata Juma’at Mosque and Chair of the Juma’at Mosque Imams Forum of Nigeria; Sheikh Malam Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman of the Kano Council of Ulama and Deputy Chair of the National Council of Ulama. Other on ongoing engagement include Sheikh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Imam of Alfurqan Mosque; Sheikh Aminu Daurawa (Director General Hizba Kano State), and Professor Sheik Muhammad Sani Rijiyar Lemo.
Through Friday sermons, mosque announcements, and media outreach, these leaders would be transforming their platforms into spaces for public health education, emphasizing that child vaccination aligns with Islamic teachings on prevention and compassion.
“As people of faith, it is our duty to safeguard the lives entrusted to us by the Almighty. The health and well-being of our children is both a divine trust and a moral responsibility. Islam teach us to preserve life, protect the weak, and prevent harm wherever possible..” — Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Adam.
A Faith-Based Endorsement of Science
The religious leaders’ endorsement of the MR campaign marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward achieving the target of saving and protecting over 7 million children in Kano State.
Earlier in August, Sheikh Malam Ibrahim Khalil received an advocacy visit from the campaign team and expressed strong support for the initiative, calling it both a religious obligation and a humanitarian duty.
“Protecting our children is an act of worship. By doing so, we fulfill our responsibility before God, our communities, and our nation,”— Sheikh Malam Ibrahim Khalil.
This collective backing reflects growing awareness within faith circles that immunization is not a Western imposition but a divine duty to safeguard life a message that resonates deeply in a state where faith shapes public opinion and social behavior.
Building Trust, One Sermon at a Time
For Dr. Sufi, the success of this initiative lies in the power of trusted voices:
“Religious leaders can bridge the gap between science and belief. Their endorsement builds confidence, dispels myths, and saves lives. When faith supports vaccination, communities listen.”
Through consistent engagement, C-WINS and its partners are ensuring that religious and community leaders become enduring allies in the fight against preventable diseases. The strategy goes beyond campaign seasons, it’s about embedding health promotion into the moral fabric of society.
A New Chapter for Public Health in Kano
In a region where misinformation and fear once hindered immunization drives, this coordinated faith-based movement represents hope, trust, and renewal. Mosques that once echoed prayers for healing now also carry messages of prevention.
From pulpits to community radios, clerics are preaching that vaccination is not only safe, it is sacred.
As the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign continues across Kano, the message reverberates powerfully through communities:
“Vaccinate your children. Protect their future. Faith supports life.”
In this convergence of faith and science, Kano’s religious leaders are not just supporting a vaccination drive, they are safeguarding the next generation and redefining what it means to serve humanity.