NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
ANRiN project exceeds target, delivers 6m services, tasks stakeholders on sustainability
Health

ANRiN project exceeds target, delivers 6m services, tasks stakeholders on sustainability

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By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, has rolled out its achievements in improving the health and well-being of children under five, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women in Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first phase of the ANRiN project would end on 30th June 2025, while the second phase, 2.0, would begin on July 1st, 2025.

The ANRiN 2.0, which has three components, would entail; basic package of nutrition services, convergence with food systems and
data-driven multi sectoral coordination and accountability.

Delivering a presentation at a four-day sustainability workshop in Kano, the Project Manager of the ANRiN project in Kaduna, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, said over the course of it first phase, the project delivered a total of 6,267,880 services, exceeding its target of 5,784,983.

Muhammad-Idris said that the services provided by the project included vitamin ‘A’ supplementation, deworming, micronutrient powder distribution, and counseling on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices.

She added that the project provided contraception services, including Short-Term Methods (STM) and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), to adolescent girls.

Muhammad-Idris said a total of 146,897 adolescent girls received child spacing and family planning services, with 23,578 opting for LARC and 123,319 choosing STM.

At facility level, the project manager said that the project trained 60 Master Trainers, 120 Secondary Health Facility workers, and 510 Primary Health Care workers on various aspects of healthcare delivery.

She added that over 300,000 pregnant women were reached with MIYCN counseling, iron and folic acid supplementation, and intermittent preventive treatment for malaria.

Muhammad-Idris said the project established and strengthened 23 Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) across the state, which serve as a platform for communities to provide feedback on the project’s services.

Speaking further, she recalled that the ANRiN project also provided emergency support to the Tudun Biri community (Drone attack victims) with food items, livestock, seedlings, agricultural inputs, among others.

The Chairman, Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), Bashir Muhammad,stated that the project’s achievements demonstrated the impact of collaborative efforts in improving the health and well-being of children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women in Kaduna State.

Muhammad stated that such collaborative approach would be crucial in ensuring that the benefits of the project were felt for years to come, and that the health and nutrition needs of the state’s most vulnerable populations continue to be met.

He, therefore, said it was imperative that the stakeholders continue to work together to ensure that the gains were sustained for the betterment of the state and nation in general.

Muhammad restated the SCFN’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve nutrition outcomes in Kaduna State, emphasising the committee’s role in coordinating efforts to address malnutrition.

The State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Ramatu Haruna, lamented that malnutrition was a major public health issue in the state contributing to over 50 per cent of under-five deaths.

Haruna was represented by Jibril Isah, the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the State Primary Health Care Board.

He said that key MIYCN indicators revealed critical gaps with only 13 per cent of newborns receiving timely breastfeeding.

She explained that 41.1 per cent of infants were exclusively breastfed, and 12.3 per cent of children aged six to 23 months met proper feeding standards.

Haruna said that the state had 1,063 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), 31 Secondary Health Care Facilities, with 162 offering Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) services and 560 delivering MIYCN interventions.

Similarly, she said that one tertiary hospital and 31 secondary facilities served as Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) stabilisation centers, supported by community-based Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) services in all the 23 LGAs to strengthen capacity.

The SNO also said that 585 health workers from 162 PHCs had been trained on IMAM, alongside 1,620 community volunteers who have established 14,580 support groups statewide.

Earlier, Nutrition Specialist for ANRiN project in Kaduna, Hauwa Usman, said the workshop, which strategically brought stakeholders from various MDAs, was to review the achievements and lessons learned.

She added that the meeting was to strengthen capacity for sustainability planning and encourage multi-sectoral collaboration

NAN reports that ANRiN is a state-led and World Bank-funded performance-based project which aims to increase the utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age.

Primarily, the project focuses on increasing access to and utilising a community-based Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BNPS) according to established targets to reduce malnutrition in Nigeria.

The programme is currently being implemented in 12 high malnutrition burden states in Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Kaduna Govt. postpones coronation of Chief of Moro’a to June 14
General News

Kaduna Govt. postpones coronation of Chief of Moro’a to June 14

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By Philip Yatai

Kafanchan (Kaduna State), May 28, 2025 (NAN) The Kaduna State Government has postponed the coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to the Chief of Moro’a, Mr Isiaku Sambo, from May 31 to June 14.

The Moro’a Traditional Council of Moro’a Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, announced the postponement in a notice in Manchok on Wednesday.

The notice was signed by the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Mr Ishaya Akai, Magayakin Moro’a,(Warlord of Moro’a Land).

The council explained that the postponement was due to an urgent national engagement to be performed by Gov Uba Sani on Saturday.

“A new date, June 14 has been fixed for the event.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this change of date might have caused. All other preparations for the event will continue,” the traditional council said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sambo would be presented with a staff of office as the fifth Chief of Moro’a, following the demise of his father, Malam Tagwai Sambo.

Sambo, a first-class traditional ruler, died on June 15, 2024. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Kaduna electricity assures Kebbi of power restoration
General News

Kaduna electricity assures Kebbi of power restoration

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By Muhammad Lawal

Dr Umar Abubakar-Hashidu, Managing Director, Kaduna Electric Distribution Company (KEDCO), has assured electricity consumers in Kebbi that normal power supply would be restored to the area this week.

 

 

Abubakar-Hashidu made the disclosure while interacting with Journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi at Government House, Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

 

 

The MD attributed the current epileptic power supply to destruction of three towers on 330 KV line from Kanji to Birnin Kebbi to Niger Republic.

 

 

He, however, said that work on the affected towers had reached advanced stage, assuring that engineers alongside other technical personnel have gone far in fixing the problem.

 

 

“Measures is being taken by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited and KEDCO to ensure that power is restored to affected areas,” he said.

 

 

Giving the background of the power outage in the state, Abubakar-Hashidu recalled that about three weeks ago there was collapse of three towers on the 330 KV Birnin Kebbi transmission line.

 

 

“That means bulk power cannot be sent from Kanji to Birnin Kebbi, this affects power supply not only to Birnin Kebbi and Sokoto but also to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.

 

 

“The 330 KV line is manned and operated by TCN, they supply bulk power to us for onward distribution to our customers.

 

 

“Upon that happening, a decision was taken to back feed Sokoto, Kebbi and Talatan Mafara through the 132 KV through Zaria-Funtua coming up to Talatan Mafara, Sokoto down to Kebbi,” he said.

 

 

The MD, however, confirmed that the voltage was very low due to the distance from Kebbi to Zaria, adding that Zaria was being fed from Enugu through Benue to Jos to Zaria.

 

 

“I am happy to give the good news that by this weekend the 330 KV line will be back. Energy and bulk power will be restored to Birnin Kebbi, Argungu and Yauri.

 

 

“All the four transmission stations within this axis that are power dedicated to KV line will have power and all these issues of low voltage will be over,” Abubakar-Hashidu assured. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Pensioners urge Kaduna govt to defray N20bn pension liabilities
General News

Pensioners urge Kaduna govt to defray N20bn pension liabilities

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By Hussaina Yakubu

The National Union of Pensioners (NUP), has urged Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State, to pay the N20 billion outstanding pension liabilities owed its members

The State Secretary of the union, Alhassan Balarabe-Musa, said this on Thursday in Kaduna while commenting to the 2025 International Workers’ Day.

He said the Sani administration inherited over N30 billion pension liabilities at its inauguration on May 29,2023.

“The governor has paid over N3.6 billion in 2023. In all, he has paid over N10.4 billion to date.

“We are grateful that he has settled part of the inherited pension liabilities but more efforts should be made in this direction,” he said.

Balarabe-Musa, however, lamented those under the contributory pension scheme were yet to receive payment from 2017 to date.

The scribe said that workers disengaged in 2017, especially those in the service of the local government councils were yet to be paid as their records have been declared missing.

He, therefore, urged the governor to do the needful for this category of pitiable pensioners to get their entitlements, adding that, “this will greatly help in alleviating their sufferings as most of them and their dependents are now living from hand to mouth.”

Alhassan Balarabe-Musa, NUP Secretary, Kaduna State

Balarabe-Musa also advocated for the implementation of the N32,000 pension increase approved by the Federal Government.

“So, if the increase is implemented, pensioners in the state will receive a minimum of N62,000 monthly pension.

“I want the governor to be the second one to implement it as only Yobe is the only state that has so far done so across Nigeria.

“He should emulate his predecessor who was the first governor to implement the N30,000 minimum pension in February 2020.”

The NUP scribe further urged the governor to provide a bus and a plot of land for it to build a befitting State Secretariat

He decried, ” The union had 15 houses at the Marafa Estate in Kaduna city, which were sold at the tale end of the Nasir El-Rufai administration.

“The exercise violated all extant due process regulations as the houses were sold at a paltry sum of N200million, with even no records to where the money went.

“We, therefore, want the governor to probe these sales, revoke it and retrieve these houses for NUP,” he said, adding that the state government provided vehicles to all the trade unions except the NUP. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Strengthening gender desks in schools: The Kaduna example
Features

Strengthening gender desks in schools: The Kaduna example

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By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

 

Across many schools in Kaduna state, a silent transformation is unfolding to tackle School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) and create a safer environment for students, especially girls.

 

For students like Hauwa’u Yusuf, a Senior Secondary 1 student at Government Secondary School, Rigasa, daily school life once came with anxiety and fear.

 

She was bullied by some of her male classmates who taunted her, mocked her, and threatened physical assault.

 

At the time, Hauwa’u and her peers, unsure of whom to confide in, chose silence.

 

Such experiences are not isolated.

 

Bullying, a major form of SRGBV, includes behaviours like name-calling, peer exclusion, verbal harassment, physical violence, and even cyberbullying.

 

According to UNESCO, nearly 130 million students between the ages of 13 and 15 globally have experienced bullying.

 

In Nigeria, these figures are reflected by the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), which reports that 50 per cent of girls and 52 per cent of boys under 18 have encountered physical violence.

 

Additionally, 25 per cent of girls and 11 per cent of boys have suffered sexual violence, much of which occurs in school environments.

 

More specifically, 44 per cent of Nigerian girls and 35 per cent of boys have reported enduring physical or sexual violence from either teachers or fellow students.

 

The widespread prevalence of such violence threatens not only the safety of students but also their academic performance and emotional well-being.

 

In response to these alarming statistics, the Kaduna State Government has initiated targeted interventions through the establishment of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focal persons, also known as Grievance Response Mechanism (GRM) Officers, in schools across the state.

 

This initiative aims to provide safe, confidential, and accessible avenues for students to report incidents of abuse and receive appropriate support.

 

Yusuf’s school was one of the beneficiaries of this intervention.

 

With the deployment of a GBV focal person, the school created a space where students like Hauwa’u could safely report harassment.

 

“The bullying has reduced,” she said, while suggesting that further measures, like deploying more security personnel, could enhance the initiative’s effectiveness.

 

The GBV/GRM officer at the school, Salamatu Sadik, explained her role succinctly.

 

“I sensitise students about GBV and listen to complaints confidentially. I also ensure that offenders are reprimanded or reported to higher authorities when necessary”.

 

She stressed the importance of continuous training for GBV officers and recommended the use of pamphlets and leaflets to educate students about GBV and the steps to take when they encounter it.

 

Expanding on this initiative, Aisha Muhammad, Deputy Director of Female Education at the Kaduna State Ministry of Education noted that suggestion boxes have been introduced in schools to enable anonymous reporting.

 

According to her, existing school counsellors have been retrained and repurposed as GBV focal persons.

 

“When a girl experiences sexual violence or any form of abuse, she reports directly to the focal person. These officers are trained to handle complaints confidentially and link survivors with healthcare and psychosocial support”.

 

Muhammad, who is also the focal person for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), said all local government areas have service providers, including hospitals and social workers, designated to provide timely interventions.

 

Other schools are implementing additional measures to reinforce safety.

 

At Government Girls Secondary School, Maimuna Gwarzo, GBV officer Amina Abdullahi stated that the school works closely with the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVIS) to control access to the school premises.

 

“Girls are discouraged from forming close personal relationships with male teachers, and any inappropriate overtures are to be reported immediately.

 

“We tell the girls that if any male teacher asks to see them after school or elsewhere, they must inform us immediately,” Abdullahi said, underlining the importance of boundaries and proactive communication.

 

While these measures have led to positive changes, challenges persist.

 

Grace Yohanna, Centre Manager of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Kafanchan, expressed concern that some GBV officers still lack the training to maintain confidentiality.

 

This, she said, is a key element in building trust with survivors.

 

“There must be continuous awareness campaigns in schools. Students need to know who the GBV officers are, how to access them, and what help they can expect,” Yohanna said.

 

She added that both teachers and students need comprehensive education about inappropriate behaviours, such as corporal punishment or unwelcome physical contact, which are often normalised.

 

Comparatively, other Nigerian states and African countries offer useful models.

 

In Ekiti State, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, introduced gender-sensitive training for teachers and set up community-based referral mechanisms.

 

Lagos also established a digital GBV reporting platform and formed GBV school clubs to foster peer engagement and awareness.

 

Elsewhere in Africa, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education has introduced Anti-SRGBV Committees in schools, comprising students, parents, and staff who mediate peer-related conflicts and raise awareness.

 

Kenya, through its Girls’ Education Challenge programme, combines gender desks, counselling, and safe spaces with mentorship programmes for at-risk girls, ensuring they remain in school and are protected.

 

Following these regional examples, Rev. Joseph Hayab, Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation, called on tiers of government to engage trained professionals for GBV roles.

 

“Any institution with a gender desk must adopt policies that protect confidentiality and create safe spaces for disclosures,” he urged.

 

All in all, stakeholders say that the establishment of GBV/GRM desks in Kaduna schools is a commendable step towards a gender-responsive education system.

 

However, experts argue that for these structures to have lasting impact, further actions are essential.

 

They recommend regular training for staff, sustainable funding for awareness campaigns and safety infrastructure, effective monitoring, and learning from other states and countries.

 

According to them, if adequately scaled and supported, these gender desks could become a model for other Nigerian states and beyond, ensuring that all students, especially girls, have access to a safe, inclusive learning environment free from discrimination. (NANFeatures)

 

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.

Strengthening WASH infrastructure for Girls’ Education in Kaduna
Environment

Strengthening WASH infrastructure for Girls’ Education in Kaduna

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By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The lack of proper Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in Nigerian schools continues to hinder students’ education, especially for girls.

Many students are forced to endure unsanitary conditions, leading to health risks, absenteeism, and disruptions in their learning.

Bilkisu Yahaya, a Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) student at Government Secondary School, Rigasa, in Igabi Local Government Area, struggles to relieve herself while in school.

The toilets remain locked due to a lack of water.

“We have toilets, but we don’t use them because there is no water to clean them. The solar-powered borehole we had is damaged.

“When I need to use the toilet, I either wait until I get home or go behind the classroom,” she explained.

Like Yahaya, many girls in her school face the same challenge following the breakdown of the borehole.

A visit by a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent to Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS) Maimuna Gwarzo in Unguwar Sunusi, Kaduna South Local Government Area, revealed a similar situation.

The toilets were also locked, in spite being constructed by the state government in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

The initiative was designed to provide safe and hygienic spaces for schoolgirls.

Hussaina Abudulkadir, a Junior Secondary 3 (JS3) student, revealed that she and her friends had resorted to open defecation due to the toilet closures.

“We have to buy sachet water or bring water from home to drink and clean ourselves,” she said.

The lack of functional WASH facilities in schools poses a serious threat to girls’ education in Nigeria.

Poor sanitation contributes to absenteeism, for menstruating girls, who struggle to attend classes without proper hygiene facilities.

According to the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), children under 18 are the most deprived of WASH facilities, with about 70 per cent lacking access to clean water and sanitation.

A UNICEF Nigeria report from 2021 revealed that only 37 per cent of schools had basic water supply services, while 35 per cent had basic sanitation services.

Additionally, just 30 per cent of schools had basic hygiene services, and only 11 per cent provided gender-sensitive WASH facilities.

The lack of these facilities disproportionately affects female students, especially during menstruation, leading to increased absenteeism.

The situation is worse in rural areas, where only 31 per cent of schools have access to basic water services, compared to 49 per cent in urban areas.

Similarly, sanitation access is lower in rural schools, with just 23 per cent having functional facilities, whereas urban schools fare slightly better at 44 per cent.

A report by WASH Nigeria highlights how poor WASH facilities contribute to increased school absenteeism and the spread of waterborne diseases, negatively impacting students’ health and academic performance.

Analysts say addressing this crisis requires government intervention, community involvement, and civil society engagement to ensure not just the provision but also the sustainable maintenance of WASH infrastructure in schools.

They opined that a proper WASH system in schools should include an improved water source with a reliable supply, separate, functional sanitation facilities for boys and girls, and handwashing stations with soap and water.

Although the Kaduna State Government, through the World Bank-funded AGILE Project, provided 2,629 WASH facilities in schools in 2022, many institutions struggle to maintain them.

A teacher at GGSS Maimuna Gwarzo, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that students are sometimes forced to fetch water from nearby staff quarters as a form of punishment.

“It has been over three months since the borehole broke down, so the toilets remain closed to prevent further damage, as they cannot be used without water,” she said.

In response to the situation, the Deputy Director of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health explained that the government has tasked School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) with maintaining school facilities, particularly WASH infrastructure.

“SBMC members are residents of the communities where the schools are located, and they are responsible for ensuring the facilities are maintained,” she stated.

Malam Auwal Abubakar, Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Rigasa, confirmed that their solar-powered borehole failed a few months after installation in 2022.

“We contacted an engineer, who estimated the repair cost at ₦600,000, but our efforts, along with the SBMC, to raise the amount were unsuccessful,” he said.

“I wrote to AGILE about the issue and also spoke to the media. Eventually, AGILE sent a team of engineers who repaired the borehole a few weeks ago.

“Now, we have water, and the toilets are open for the girls to use,” he added.

Unfortunately, this is not the case at GGSS Maimuna Gwarzo, where the borehole remains faulty.

The school’s principal, Aisha Jummai, said she engaged the SBMC to find a solution, but the engine failure prevented water from being pumped.

“Parents have been reluctant to contribute to repairs because it is a public school offering free education,” she noted.

On the way forward, Dr Peter Adamu, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Kaduna State University, has urged the government, communities, and civil society organisations to adopt a culture of maintenance.

“The government must develop a structured plan for school facility maintenance, including allocating funds for WASH and other essential infrastructure,” he said.

Adamu, who is also a member of the Civil Society on Open Budget and Open Contracting in Kaduna State, recommended hiring dedicated cleaners to maintain the toilets instead of assigning students, which disrupts their learning.

“Parents and community members must collaborate with school authorities to ensure facilities are properly maintained,” he added.

He also stressed that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have a role to play in reporting such issues to the government for swift intervention.

All in all, Stakeholders insist that the persistent neglect of WASH facilities in schools continue to disrupt girls’ education in Kaduna state.

While projects like AGILE have greatly improved access to WASH facilities, stakeholders say poor maintenance and limited community involvement remain key challenges.

To address this, they opined that the state government must integrate WASH facility maintenance into its Education Sector Plan (ESP).

This will ensure effective management and gender-responsive policies that prioritise girls’ needs.

Furthermore, it is believed that local communities and civil society organisations would play their part in providing essential sanitation facilities while ensuring a sustainable maintenance strategy. (NANFeatures)

Troops ambush bandits, neutralise 3 in Chikun LGA
Defence/Security

Troops ambush bandits, neutralise 3 in Chikun LGA

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Bandits
By Mohammed Tijjani

The Troops of Sub-Sector 4, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, on Tuesday, ambushed bandits and neutralised three of them, off the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt-Col. Musa Yahaya, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Kaduna.

Yahaya said, “In a well-coordinated operation on Tuesday ,  troops of Sub-Sector 4, Operation FANSAN YAMMA successfully neutralised three Violent Extremists and Insurgents (VEIs) in an ambush at an area near Ngwagi Hill, Gwagwada Community, off the Kaduna – Abuja highway in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.”

The spokesman said that the success of the operation was based on response to credible intelligence that the VEI were sighted near Ngwagi Hill.

He said that troops were immediately deployed on long-range fighting patrol to the likely road-crossing point of the insurgents.

According to him the troops got to the location at about 5.30 p.m. on the same date and successfully launched the ambush, which effectively neutralised three armed members of the criminal group.

“During the operation, troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles, eight AK-47 rifle magazines, 374 rounds of 7.62mm x 39 special ammunition and 88 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 NATO ammunition.

Other items recovered were one Infinix mobile phone, medical supplies, clothings, and dry rations, ” Yahaya said.

He said that the success of the operation was a testament to the troops’ high fighting morale and combat efficiency.

“This achievement is also as a result of the effective collaboration between the military and intelligence agencies, which provided credible intelligence that informed the operation.

He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso  Saraso, commended the troops for their resilience and successful conduct of the operation.

He charged the troops not to relent on their oars until all criminal elements operating in the Division and the Sector’s area of operational responsibility were neutralised. (NAN)
Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Kuwait commits to empower 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna
General News

Kuwait commits to empower 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna

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Empowerment

By Sarafina Christopher

The Kuwaiti government has reiterated its commitment to empowering 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna State, through the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project.

Mr Salim Almuzayen, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Nigeria, made this announcement during the 64th National Day and 34th Liberation Day commemoration of Kuwait in Abuja.

Almuzayen explained that the initiative aimed to provide equitable access to quality primary education, especially for children with disabilities, girls, and adolescents in Kaduna State.

He noted that the project, funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in collaboration with partners and UNICEF, was designed to support more than 200,000 students.

The Ambassador also highlighted the long-standing bilateral relations between Kuwait and Nigeria, dating back to the 1960s, when the Al-Sabah School was built in Kaduna.

“It reflects the depth of these historical relations and shows the potential for further cooperation in various areas between our two friendly countries,” he added.

On his part, Mr Adeolu Okenla, the Senior Councillor of the Middle East and Gulf Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lauded the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Kuwait.

These ties, he noted, began in 1971, with collaboration in political and economic areas.

Okenla explained that Kuwait’s National Day and Liberation Day were significant milestones in the country’s history.

“The National Day marks Kuwait’s independence from British protection in 1961, while the Liberation Day commemorates the country’s freedom from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

“Kuwait has made significant progress since then, becoming a wealthy and safe country with a high standard of living,” he said.

He further commended Kuwait for its contributions to regional peace and development, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Okenla also expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s free education policy, which spans from primary school to university and has contributed to a 96.46 per cent adult literacy rate in the country. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Retiree drags in-law to court for keeping wife
Judiciary

Retiree drags in-law to court for keeping wife

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By Aisha Gambo

A retiree, Sani Yakubu, on Thursday dragged his wife’s grandmother, Hajiya Fatima, to a Shari’a Court sitting in Rigasa, Kaduna, for refusing to allow his wife to return to his house.

The complainant told the court that his wife, Sumayya Sani, had left their matrimonial home in December 2024, almost two months after she gave birth.

“My wife told me that she was going to meet some of her relatives and then go back home because she couldn’t continue staying with me.

“She later said that I should write a divorce letter. When she didn’t come back home that day, I went to her family’s house the following day and her grandmother insisted I give her a divorce letter,” he said.

He prayed the court to intervene in the matter and compel Fatima to allow his wife to return to her matrimonial home.

On her part, the defendant told the court that she refused to allow her granddaughter to return to the complainant because he didn’t provide her food and failed to slaughter a ram after she gave birth to a baby.

Yakubu, however, denied not providing food for his wife, but agreed to not slaughtering a ram when she delivered a baby due to financial constraints.

When asked if what her grandmother said was true, the wife, who was also in court, answered in the affirmative, insisting that her husband was financially buoyant but just refused to provide for her.

“It is my decision not to go back to him and my grandmother supported me. I didn’t love him in the first instance; she was the one who insisted that I should marry him.

“Anytime I asked for money, he would say he didn’t have but he would send money to his girlfriend, maintaining that he was going to marry another wife,” she said.

The Judge, Malam Muhammad Adamu, ordered Sumayya to return to her matrimonial home, saying that not slaughtering a ram for the baby was not a tangible reason for divorce.

He ordered the complainant to continue to persuade his wife by behaving well to her and the child until she returned to her matrimonial home. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Second Chance Education for Kaduna Girls: Challenges and way forward
Features

Second Chance Education for Kaduna Girls: Challenges and way forward

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By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Bilkisu Aminu was just 16 when she was married off by her parents.

Coming from a less privileged background in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna, young Bilkisu had keen interest in learning. She wanted to become a medical doctor.

“When a well-to-do suitor came to my house seeking my hand in marriage, I told him I would continue my education after marriage because I was in JSS 1 when he proposed.

“But he refused, he said he didn’t want me to go to school after marriage and my dad didn’t give me the support I needed; so I kept begging even after marriage.

“I kept my uniform in a safe place because I love school and would want to return.

Aminu is now 21 and divorced with a child. Her interest in learning is reignited. She wants to go back to school but does not know where to start.

According to a report by Save the Children78 per cent of girls in the northern region of Nigeria are married before the age of 18, while 44 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday in the whole country.

The report titled “State of the Nigerian Girl Report – An Incisive Diagnosis of Child Marriage” shows that child marriage is more prevalent in the northwest and northeast of Nigeria.

The report also states that 48 per cent of girls were married by age 15 and 78 per cent were married by age 18.

A survey by the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics in 2020 shows that 31.1 per cent of children within the primary school age were out of school.

It also showed that 31.9 per cent of children within the junior secondary school age were out of school in the state.

Kaduna State’s Second Chance Policy

The Kaduna State School Census Report 2020 revealed that 25 per cent of adolescent girls dropped out of school. This is due to factors like early marriage, insecurity and poverty, among others.

With this development, the Kaduna state government developed an Education Policy in 2019 which made provision for Second Chance Education (SCE)

The state also developed a 10-year Education Sector Plan (ESP) named Kaduna State 2019 – 2029 Education Sector Strategic Plan.

The plan is a comprehensive and strategic framework developed with the support of development partners to guide planning, implementation and evaluation of education policies and programmes.

UNICEF says to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is inclusive and equitable quality education for all, a Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) is essential.

The Director of Planning, Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Salisu Lawal, stated that SCE is being implemented with support from development partners for girls who dropped out because they got married.

He said the programme had so far reached 14 communities in 10 Local Government Areas across the state with about 700 drop-out married adolescent girls benefitting since inception in 2018.

Aisha Muhammad, Deputy Director,  Female Education stated that the department creates awareness in communities and engages traditional and religious leaders on the need for drop-out married girls to go to school.

“Those leaders now announce in churches and mosques urging girls interested in going back to school to join the programme.

“We also engage husbands and show them the importance of education to their wives and family at large.

“Some will agree while others will not and some of the adolescent girls who dropped out to get married may later get divorced.

“Others may lose their husbands and come back to school while some who dropped out of school due to medical challenges would want to go back to school.

She said that the ministry is planning to scale up the programme to other local government areas.

Beneficiaries’ Plea

Rabi’at Aliyu, an enrollee in SCE, called on the government to adjust the school time for married women, saying most married women find it hard to be in school in the morning.

Aliyu, who married at the age of 15, could not complete her secondary education as she dropped out of school after JSS 3.

After having her first child, Aliyu decided to go back to school but her husband would not allow her.

She eventually got divorced and remarried. The new husband is supportive; he allowed her to go back to school.

Aged 21, Aliyu enrolled in Government Secondary School, Rigasa and is now in SS 2.

“My challenge started when I got pregnant; I had to go on a break because it wasn’t easy and the school authorities understood.

“Whenever there is a need for me to go back home during school hours, the school authorities allow me because they are aware I’m married.

“I want to become a journalist that is why I’m not giving up,” she said.

Another beneficiary attending Government Secondary School (GSS), Rido in Chikun LGA, Nafisa Aminu, who is a nursing mother, urged the government to include virtual learning in the SCE programme

“We go to school late due to house chores and children; my attention is usually divided since we are not allowed to bring babies to the class.

“If we can get a crèche where we can keep our children till lessons are over, it will help us a lot; we can learn online or on radio just like the way it happened during COVID-19,” she said.

Experts advocate programme flexibility, awareness 

In spite of efforts by the state government to sustain the SCE policy, some experts are of the view that more needs to be done for effective implementation.

Barr. Jennifer Abaji , Founder, Basileia Vulnerable Persons Rights Initiative (BVPRI), stated that one of the things stopping married adolescent girls from joining the second chance education programme is insufficient flexibility.

“We are advocating for the Kaduna state government to leverage ICT to make this second chance education programme more flexible.

“That means instead of the girl getting worried about always getting to school, the school can get to the married adolescents through remote learning.

“Our organisation has successfully convinced the government to allow out-of-school married adolescents to be able to learn from home leveraging ICT.

“We are glad that the government has bought into it and they are excited to review the second chance programme and they promised to invite us to the review of the entire policy,” he said.

According to Abaji, the second chance programme has not been fully utilised saying it would have reached more people if it was flexible.

She recommended that skills acquisition should be added to the programme so that married girls can be able to solve some small financial issues and take care of themselves properly.

Abaji called on the government to ensure that these out-of-school married adolescents are able to have access to the technological tools needed to learn remotely.

As some experts advocate the flexibility of the programme by leveraging ICT, others are calling for intensified awareness campaigns on the programme.

Mrs Margaret John, the principal of Babban Sauran Junior Secondary School stated that most of the girls who are interested in going back to school are not well informed about the programme.

“The government needs to step up in advertisement in jingles both on television and radio.

“It should also use government schools to invite communities around and inform them on the need to bring out these interested girls.

“Most of the problem now is that they are not even aware of the opportunities and if they do, the response would be very interesting,” she said.

Stakeholders however agree that the SCE policy of Kaduna State represents a transformative initiative to address the educational challenges faced by adolescent girls, particularly those impacted by early marriage and other socio-economic barriers.

While significant progress has been made in providing opportunities for school dropouts to return to learning, much remains to be done to enhance its impact.

Flexibility in the programme, including virtual learning options and provision of childcare facilities, as well as the integration of skills acquisition, can help address the unique needs of married girls and young mothers.

Moreover, intensified awareness campaigns are crucial to ensuring that more girls and their families are informed about the programme’s existence and benefits.

As the Kaduna State government works to scale up the initiative, collaboration with stakeholders and leveraging technology will be key to ensuring that no girl is left behind in the pursuit of education.

By empowering these young women, the state not only transforms their lives but also strengthens the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous society. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria

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