By Sahel Reporters, Bauchi
Stakeholders in the education sector have validated the Draft Bauchi State Gender in Education Policy (BSGiEP) and Guidelines for School Re-entry of Married and Pregnant Adolescent Girls, marking a major milestone in efforts to make education more inclusive and gender-responsive in the state.
The validation workshop, held from October 30–31 in Bauchi, was organized by the Young Leaders Network (YLN) with funding support from the Malala Fund, in partnership with the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.
The two-day event, convened under the Strengthening Advocacy for Girls’ Education (SAGE) Project, brought together key stakeholders from across various sectors who will play critical roles in implementing the policy across all levels in the state.
In his remarks, Seun Justin Onarinde, Executive Director of Young Leaders Network, said the workshop was the result of a series of participatory activities — including co-creation sessions, stakeholder engagements, and expert meetings — all aimed at developing a policy that reflects Bauchi’s unique educational realities.
He explained that the policy aligns with the National Gender in Education Policy (2021) and global frameworks such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5, while being localized to address the specific challenges faced by girls in Bauchi State.
“Today’s meeting is not just another policy engagement; it is a defining moment in our collective journey to make education in Bauchi State truly inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive,” Onarinde stated.
“This policy is not a mere document — it is a commitment to ensure that no girl is denied her right to learn because of early marriage, pregnancy, disability, poverty, or insecurity.”
Onarinde also appreciated the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mohammed Lawal Rimin Zayam, for his support in driving the development of the framework — the first of its kind to guide gender-responsive planning, budgeting, and implementation within the state’s education system.
He further urged the Commissioner to fast-track the policy’s approval process, ensure its printing and dissemination to all schools, and establish a State Steering Committee to oversee its immediate implementation.
In his response, Dr. Rimin Zayam reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the full adoption and implementation of the policy, acknowledging the efforts of the Young Leaders Network and other partners.
“Our Department of Planning will work out modalities for the actualization and implementation of this policy and its guidelines,” he said.
“With the revitalization of the Education Resource Centre by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, our printing facilities are now fully operational. I assure you that once we receive the validated document, we will commence printing and dissemination across the state.”
During the technical review and plenary validation sessions, participants provided inputs which were harmonized to produce the final draft of the policy.
The workshop concluded with stakeholders officially endorsing and adopting the Bauchi State Gender in Education Policy and the Guidelines for School Re-entry of Married and Pregnant Adolescent Girls, paving the way for government ownership and full-scale implementation through the Bauchi State Ministry of Education.
