The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Zamfara State has convened a multi-stakeholder forum to review and domesticate the National Policy on Gender in Education, aligning it with the specific context and realities of the state.
Speaking during a two-day validation meeting in Gusau, the Deputy Project Coordinator of the AGILE Project in Zamfara, Dr. Salisu Dalhatu, said the forum brought together critical stakeholders from various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as key actors in the education sector.
Dr. Dalhatu explained that the meeting aimed to review and validate the National Policy on Gender in Education and adapt it to suit Zamfara’s local realities.
He noted that the next phase of the process would focus on ensuring government ownership and institutional reforms that reflect the state’s priorities particularly in light of the state of emergency on education declared by the Zamfara State Government in November 2023.
“Our goal is to ensure that the policy aligns with ongoing education reforms,” he stated. “After this, we will develop a costed implementation plan with a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress.”
According to him, the domesticated policy will help institutionalize the gender agenda across all MDAs, ensuring sustainability even after the AGILE project ends.
Dr. Dalhatu further outlined the timeline for completing the policy process, noting that the review meeting would be followed by a costed implementation planning session with stakeholders and a final validation meeting on Saturday.
“After validation, we will clean up the document and present it to the State Project Steering Committee, which includes about nine Commissioners and heads of MDAs. The final step will be submit to the Honourable Commissioner for Education for presentation to the State Executive Council for consent and adoption,” he explained.
Highlighting the broader vision of the initiative, Dr. Dalhatu expressed optimism that Zamfara would emerge as a frontline state in implementing gender-responsive educational policies.
“Our expectation is for Zamfara to lead in promoting gender equality in education and ensuring that adolescent girls and all girls in the state have equal access, retention, and completion opportunities at all levels of learning,” he said.
Dr. Dalhatu emphasized that the AGILE project will continue to play a pivotal role in strengthening girls’ education and empowerment in Zamfara, promoting inclusive access and sustainable policy reforms across the education sector.
Speaking during the meeting, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Malam Wadato Madawaki, commended the validation process of the State Policy on Gender in Education.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Sani Mailafia, the Commissioner explained that the initiative aligns with the National Policy on Gender in Education, which seeks to address disparities and promote equal access to quality education for all.
Malam Wadato noted that under the AGILE Programme, states are expected to domesticate the national policy, adapting it to local contexts, developing implementation frameworks, and establishing tools for monitoring progress over the next decade.
The domesticated gender policy, he said, is expected to guide Zamfara’s education system in ensuring equal opportunities for boys and girls, reducing gender-based barriers, and fostering a more inclusive learning environment.
He added that once validated, the policy would be printed and rolled out for implementation across the state, describing the process as a key step toward achieving quality, equitable education for every child in Zamfara State.
