Gender-inclusive education policy launched in Bauchi to reduce girl-child dropout and promote equal access to education, led by YLN and key stakeholders

Gender-inclusive education policy development took center stage in Bauchi as the Young Leaders Network (YLN) convened key stakeholders for a three-day workshop aimed at tackling barriers to girls’ education in the state.

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Speaking at the event, YLN Executive Director Seun Justin declared the initiative a bold step toward “rewriting the future of Bauchi’s children, particularly girls who are often left behind by circumstances beyond their control.”

Despite previous interventions, Justin noted that challenges such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and lack of educational support still force many girls to drop out of school.

“The statistics are sobering, but let us remember — behind every statistic is a child with a name, a face, and a future,” he said, urging attendees to move from intentions to impactful commitments.

Justin called for the creation of a policy that lives in classrooms and communities, not one that gathers dust in files.

He emphasized that investing in girls’ education is “smart economics, justice, and common sense,” urging stakeholders to be practical, inclusive, and bold.

He revealed that the draft gender policy for Bauchi reflects both national education standards and local realities, and outlined next steps including:

• Steering committee formation
• Policy adoption
• Wide dissemination
• Integration into organisational frameworks

The initiative received a strong endorsement from Musa Hardo, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Bauchi Chapter, who pledged compliance with the forthcoming policy.

“A policy that facilitates school completion for the girl child is commendable,” Hardo said. He also committed to sensitizing school proprietors to ensure full implementation.

He added that although policy implementation is often a challenge in Nigeria, this particular initiative could transform Bauchi’s education sector, especially for girls.

Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Rimin-Zayam, described the policy as “timely” and aligned with the state’s vision to expand educational access and equity.

“It’s all about bringing back our girls to school. This collaboration will go a long way in reducing out-of-school numbers,” he said, while acknowledging the role of civil society in bridging implementation gaps.

The Accelerating Girls’ Education Project, Bauchi Ministry of Education, and civil society organisations were encouraged to mainstream the policy into proposals, operations, and reporting.

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As the workshop wrapped up, stakeholders agreed that a gender-inclusive education policy is no longer optional but essential for securing the future of Bauchi’s girls — and the state’s broader development.