LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- More than 40,000 adolescent girls in Kaduna State have gained critical life skills as the state government moves to permanently embed the programme within public secondary schools, marking a significant shift in gender-focused education reform.
The initiative, driven by Governor Uba Sani’s administration, targets the long-standing gaps in girl-child education by combining academic learning with practical life competencies. The state government says the move is designed to empower students with skills that extend beyond the classroom, preparing them for social, economic and leadership roles.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, the government confirmed that an Executive Bill would soon be forwarded to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The proposed legislation seeks to make life skills education a compulsory and permanent part of the secondary school curriculum across the state.
The programme is being delivered under the World Bank–supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project. According to official figures, 40,536 girls and 1,864 boys in senior secondary schools have already benefited, while 1,141 teachers have been trained as mentors to implement the curriculum.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, disclosed these details during a strategic workshop on institutionalizing life skills education held in Abuja. Representing the governor, Sambo said the reform reflects a broader vision to reposition education in Kaduna State.
“Our goal is to deliberately build life skills that will help young people, especially girls, navigate real-life challenges and become responsible leaders in their communities,” he said.
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He explained that the policy signals a clear departure from rote learning, replacing it with a holistic model that values emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership. The curriculum addresses empowerment, health and nutrition, reproductive health, prevention of gender-based violence, climate change awareness and social inclusion.
Early results from the programme indicate improved self-confidence among students, lower absenteeism and rising school enrolment. Officials also reported positive behavioural shifts, including stronger interpersonal relationships, greater respect for diversity and increased empathy within school communities.
Providing further insight, AGILE State Project Coordinator, Maryam Dangaji, confirmed that the programme currently runs in all senior secondary schools in Kaduna State.
“The wide coverage was designed to ensure that no girl was left behind in accessing life skills education critical to her personal and social development,” she said.
Education advocates have praised the state’s approach. The Executive Director of the Centre for Girls’ Education, Dr Habiba Mohammed, described Kaduna’s strategy as “a model for sustainable, girl-child-focused education reform in Nigeria.”
Lawmakers have also signalled readiness to support the initiative. Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Emmanuel Kantiok, said the legislature was “prepared to fast-track the bill.” He added that once stakeholder consultations were completed, “the Assembly would support the passage of the bill to give life skills education a firm legal and budgetary backing in the state.”
The proposed law is expected to secure long-term funding and institutional support, positioning Kaduna State as a leading example of how targeted education policy can drive social change and expand opportunities for adolescent girls.
