By Abubakar Ahmed
The Executive Director of Young Leaders Network, Seun Justin Onarinde, announced the commencement of a workshop on the development of the Bauchi State Gender in Education Policy. This effort aims to address the alarming rate of girls dropping out of school due to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and lack of support to pursue their academic endeavors.
The Stakeholders’ Workshop on Gender in Education Policy Development took place from August 19th to 21st, 2025, and was convened by Young Leaders Network in partnership with the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, and development partners, including Malala Fund. The workshop’s consultative approach aimed to co-create a Bauchi State Gender in Education Policy that ensures all children, especially girls, have equitable access to safe, quality, and inclusive education.
During his welcome address, Seun urged participants to be bold, practical, and inclusive, emphasizing that the policy should reflect the hopes and realities of the people. He stated, “Let us listen to each other, challenge each other, and above all, let us co-create a Gender in Education Policy that is not just written on paper but lived out in classrooms, in communities, and the lives of our children.” He added that together, they could make the workshop the birthplace of a policy that would shape history.
The Bauchi State Ministry of Education acknowledged the role and impact of Young Leaders Network and Malala Fund in bringing girls back into the school system, retaining them, and transitioning them to the next level. The Commissioner of Education, Dr. Lawal Mohammed Rimin Zayam, expressed his ministry’s commitment to collaborating with these organizations to achieve their targets. He stated, “As a Ministry, we will do everything within our reach and that of the AGILE Project to ensure that this major target is achieved in the education sector of the state.”
Hajia Aisha Kilishi, a renowned educationist, delivered a keynote address on “Advancing Gender Equality in Education: Building a Bauchi State Where Every Child Learns and Thrives.” She emphasized the need for equitable learning environments that challenge harmful educational practices, which can be achieved through systematic changes in policies, curriculum, and teaching practices, as well as addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and promoting inclusive leadership.
The Bauchi State Policy on Gender in Education is a response to the National Policy on Gender Education (2021), which prioritizes education as one of its strong pillars. The policy focuses on addressing access, retention, and completion concerns for boys, girls, men, and women in education, aiming to ensure the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 and the elimination of forms of discrimination in education.
The workshop drew over 60 stakeholder participants from various organizations, including the State Ministry of Education, international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, people living with disabilities, the media, security agencies, and traditional institutions.