Northern Pulse: NGO engages stakeholders on gender-responsive education in Borno

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Connected Development (CODE), and NGO, has engaged education stakeholders to institutionalise a Gender-Responsive Education Sector Plan(GRESP) across local government areas in Borno state.

The engagement brought together local government chairmen, secretaries, education secretaries and heads of personnel management to strengthen GRESP in Wednesday in Abuja .

Hyeladzira James-Mshelia, Acting Executive Officer of CODE, said the initiative focused on aligning policies, infrastructure and staffing with the needs of male and female learners.

James-Mshelia explained that the plan aimed to promote gender equality by enabling local authorities to address disparities affecting girls and other marginalised groups.

She said the programme formed part of broader efforts to support underserved communities through a bottom-up approach empowering key local actors.

“We are working particularly with local governments because stakeholders such as chairmen, secretaries and education officials have the expertise and decision-making authority needed to fully adopt and implement gender-responsive education strategies,” she said.

According to her, in spite improvements in local government autonomy, implementation challenges persisted, requiring sustained engagement and capacity building.

“When citizens are informed and actively involved, they take responsibility for sustaining the initiative regardless of funding limitations.

“This participatory approach ensures accountability and long-term impact,” she added.

She said the initiative aimed to increase girls’ enrolment, retention and transition to higher levels of education.

She further explained that the framework address barriers such as child marriage, period poverty and socio-cultural practices limiting girls’ access to education.

Muhammed Gimba, Data Analyst at CODE, while giving an overview of GRESP/Local Education Sector Operational Plans (LESOP), said the plan integrated gender considerations into education planning and budgeting processes.

Gimba noted that gender stereotypes in learning materials and school environments influenced students’ career perceptions.

He stressed the need for gender-sensitive budgeting, citing shortages of female teachers, inadequate sanitary facilities and absence of safe spaces for girls.

He said these factors contributed to absenteeism and reduced participation among female students.

On his part, Mukhtar Modibo, a staff of CODE, said the organisation was engaging stakeholders in Bauchi, Adamawa and Borno states to improve enrolment, retention and learning outcomes.

He said the engagement reviewed the 2025–2027 education operational plan to assess progress recorded so far.

Modibo listed progress to include increased enrolment, teacher recruitment and government and partner interventions in water, sanitation and infrastructure.

Speaking on behalf of the education stakeholders, Umar Mustafa, Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Borno State Ministry of Education, commended the organisation for the initiative.

He said insights from the workshop would guide implementation of the Local Government Operational Plan currently under development.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the engagement strengthened collaboration and promoted inclusive education practices across Borno State.(NAN)