The Bauchi State Government says enrollment of girls in schools across the state has increased by about 50 percent, following sustained efforts, under the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, (AGILE), and the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.
The Commissioner for Education, Lawan Rimin Zayam, disclosed this during a street walk held in Bauchi, to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, themed, “The Girl I Am.”
Recent data show a remarkable reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Bauchi State, from 1.5 million, to 521,000 as of 2024.
According to the state government, this progress results from strong collaboration between the Bauchi State Government, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank’s AGILE Project.
The street walk featured adolescent girls advocating for education and empowerment, carrying placards with various inscriptions, promoting the importance of girl-child education.
The procession, led by the Commissioner for Education, ended at the Government House, where participants were received by the Deputy Governor’s wife, Asama’u Auwal, on behalf of the First Lady, Aisha Bala.
Delivering the First Lady’s message, Asama’u Auwal emphasized that education remains the key to unlocking opportunities for girls, and fostering community development.
The governor’s wife, who serves as the Ambassador for Girl-Child Education in Bauchi State, reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that every child in the state returns to school, stressing that education is central to Bauchi’s future growth and development.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
