Northern Nigerian states introduce policies for married and pregnant girls' school re-entry

In Kano and Bauchi states, new initiatives and policies have been launched to facilitate the return of married girls and adolescent mothers to the formal education system.

In Kano, the Rising Child Foundation held a multi-stakeholder consultation to address barriers preventing young women from continuing their studies. Executive Director Dr. Basirat Abdulganiyu emphasized the need to connect affected girls with government non-formal learning centres to ensure they can complete at least 12 years of foundational schooling. The state government, represented by Malam Salihu Habibu Isa, expressed willingness to collaborate with organizations to promote educational access.

In Bauchi, the State Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), unveiled the Bauchi State Gender in Education Policy (2026–2030). State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, stated the policy aims to remove barriers to quality education regardless of gender or personal circumstances. The guidelines include provisions for protecting adolescent girls, addressing gender-based violence, and providing menstrual hygiene facilities to support school retention.