The Republic of Korea and UNICEF have partnered with the Government of Nigeria to launch a major immunisation initiative aimed at reaching an estimated 2.2 million unvaccinated children across the country.
The programme, officially flagged off in Badagry, Lagos State, is designed to identify and vaccinate “zero-dose” children—those who have never received routine immunisation—and strengthen primary healthcare delivery systems across six priority locations: Lagos, Ogun, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bauchi, Niger, and Adamawa States.
Nigeria currently accounts for one of the highest numbers of unvaccinated children globally, many of whom live in urban slums, border settlements, and hard-to-reach rural communities where access to healthcare remains limited.
The initiative, operating under the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) framework, is being implemented through Nigeria’s national and state health systems, with support focused on improving vaccine delivery, community engagement, and data-driven tracking of missed children.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, described the programme as a shared moral and political commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind.
“Today is a reaffirmation that every child’s life has equal value. When governments, partners, and communities align around that conviction and back it with resources and accountability, we move from commitment to impact,” she said.
She noted that the initiative goes beyond vaccination, emphasizing system strengthening and trust-building within communities to ensure sustained immunisation coverage.
The Republic of Korea, which is contributing $70 million to the global ACT-A partnership across multiple countries, allocated $5.6 million to Nigeria for the current phase of implementation running from December 2025 to December 2026.
Korean Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Lee Sang Ho, said the intervention reflects global health security priorities and the importance of collaborative action in addressing immunisation gaps.
“The Republic of Korea’s investment is a response to the increasing global health security risks, particularly in high-burden countries. This partnership demonstrates the need for sustained collaboration to address zero-dose and under-immunised children,” he said.
He added that the project will support targeted vaccination campaigns, expansion of immunisation sessions in underserved communities, and strengthening of health systems in affected areas.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery, noting that inclusive health systems remain central to the state’s development agenda.
The programme will also focus on community mobilisation, tracking of children who miss vaccinations, and integration of routine health services to ensure wider reach and sustainability.
UNICEF said the intervention aligns with Nigeria’s National Immunisation Strategy Agenda 2030 and builds on existing efforts to close equity gaps in healthcare access.
With implementation expected to expand across targeted states in phases, stakeholders say the success of the initiative will be measured by its ability to reach the most vulnerable children and strengthen long-term immunisation systems.
UNICEF reiterated its commitment to working with the Government of Nigeria and development partners to ensure that “every child belongs in the health system and no child is left behind.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child in over 190 countries and territories, focusing on the most vulnerable and excluded children to ensure equitable access to health, education, and protection services.
For more information, visit www.unicef.org/nigeria.
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