Adolescent Girls' Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE)
In a strategic move to combat School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) and create safer learning environments for girls, the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in Zamfara State has convened a stakeholder workshop focused on reviewing and updating the School-Related GBV Code of Conduct (COC).
The two-day workshop, held at Karma Hotel in Gusau, brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, educationists, security agencies, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders. The initiative aims to enhance policies that promote girl-child education, safety, and empowerment in the state.
Declaring the workshop open, Hajiya Saadatu Abdu Gusau, Coordinator of the AGILE Project in Zamfara, highlighted the initiative’s commitment to breaking barriers that hinder girls’ access to quality education. Represented by Dr. Salisu Dalhatu, the deputy coordinator, she emphasized AGILE’s mandate to ensure girls enroll, remain in school, and complete their education, while also expanding empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls and young women.
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“The objective of this workshop is to develop a state-specific Code of Conduct that establishes clear and actionable safeguarding measures for teachers, support staff, students, and host communities. This will help foster a safe, inclusive, and accessible learning environment for all,” she noted.
Dr. Dalhatu further stressed the need for professional and ethical standards that promote integrity, accountability, and an enabling educational environment by setting clear guidelines for educators and school administrators.
Government’s Strategic Interventions
Speaking at the event, Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, underscored the vital role of education in societal transformation. However, he acknowledged that challenges like SRGBV pose significant threats to the education sector.
“The Ministry, in collaboration with AGILE and other development partners, is implementing strategic interventions to enhance school infrastructure, provide adequate learning materials, and strengthen policies that ensure safety in schools,” Madawaki stated.
Stakeholders Laud AGILE’s Impact
In their goodwill messages, representatives from the Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, a of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS) Chairman, Mallam Hamisu Aliyu, commended AGILE for its role in elevating educational standards and ensuring school safety in Zamfara.
The workshop also had in attendance the Emir of Gusau’s representative, security agencies, media professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other critical stakeholders, all of whom expressed their support for the initiative’s objectives.
As AGILE continues to drive systemic educational reforms, this workshop marks a significant step towards creating a violence-free and gender-inclusive educational landscape in Zamfara State.
