YLN Hosts Stakeholder Forum to Tackle Girl-Child Education Challenges in Bauchi

By Abubakar Ahmed

In a bid to tackle the myriad challenges affecting girl-child education in Bauchi State, the Young Leaders Network (YLN), in partnership with the Malala Fund, organized a Bi-annual Stakeholders Forum in support of girls’ education under the Strengthening Advocacy for Girls’ Education, SAGE Project.

The forum which took place from July 28 – July 30, 2025, brought together key stakeholders from Tafawa Balewa, Gamawa, and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas, aimed to find lasting solutions to the problems hindering girls’ access to quality education.

According to Charity Solomon, Programme Manager, Education at Young Leaders Network, “this forum is not just about talking, it’s about acting.”

She emphasized the organization’s commitment to helping communities find real solutions so that every girl has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed.

She further revealed that the Strengthening Advocacy for Girls’ Education, SAGE Project, a community-driven initiative is focused on increasing access to quality education for girls, will continue to host such forums in the aforementioned LGAs, collaborating with stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Education, to address persistent challenges.

She therefore noted that “with continued collaboration, the hope is that these efforts will create lasting change and help more girls in Bauchi State stay in school and reach their full potential.”

In the course of the three days, the forum across the 3 LGAs identified several challenges affecting girl-child education, including lack of access to schools, misinterpretation of religious principles, cultural and religious norms, low awareness among parents and girls about the importance of education, and poor enforcement of education laws.

Other challenges discussed included street hawking and child labour, forced marriage, and parental negligence, as well as the lack of clean water and proper toilets in schools.

Mr. Nicholas Afeso, the Leader of the Civil Society Organizations working on Education in Bauchi State was of the view that “learning sessions should be scheduled in a way that does not clash with hawking or farming times, education and livelihood activities can coexist.”

Mallam Bala Adamu Kubi is the Education Secretary for Tafawa Balewa LGA, while delivering his welcome address, shared his thoughts thus; “an educated mother raises an educated child. We must invest in our girls to invest in our future.”

He admitted that even though girl child education has some challenges; these challenges can be collectively surmounted.

The clergy, were part of the participants and for Pastor Isaac Istifanus, “education is not against religion, it is our duty as leaders to enlighten our followers and show them that education builds families and communities.”

Stakeholders, including Education Secretaries, principals, adolescent girls, parents, local education officials, traditional leaders, and community groups, shared real-life experiences and brainstormed practical solutions.

They emphasized the need for more community sensitization, better teacher welfare and placement, improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in schools, and stronger enforcement of education policies.

The stakeholders also stressed the importance of fathers taking up the responsibility of supporting their homes economically, so that girls are not forced to work or hawk instead of attending school.

YLN promised to train local stakeholders on how to advocate more effectively for change, with the goal of ensuring that the voices of these communities are heard by decision-makers at higher levels.

As part of the commitment to support girls’ education, education secretaries across the three Local Government Areas and other stakeholders present signed commitment forms to take actions at their different levels.

The forum is seen as an essential step toward ensuring every girl in Tafawa Balewa, Gamawa, Ganjuwa, and Bauchi State at large has access to quality, uninterrupted education, aligned with state-level child protection frameworks and other education policies.