Ibrahim Suleiman
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has commenced the legislative process for a bill seeking to establish and regulate safe spaces in schools as part of efforts to enhance girl-child enrolment, retention, and empowerment initiatives across the state.
Hon. Mahmud Lawal, Chairman, House Committee on Education, disclosed this on Friday at the maiden Girls’ Education Summit held in Zaria.
The summit was organized by the Center for Girls’ Education (CGE) in Commemoration to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.
Lawal explained that the proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for a Law for Safe Spaces in Kaduna State, 2025,” aims to institutionalize the safe space approach in schools by providing a legal framework for their establishment and regulation.
According to him, the bill seeks to protect individuals from harassment and discrimination, promote inclusiveness, and create a governance structure that ensures standard training, reporting mechanisms, and enforcement tools for effective implementation.
Earlier, the Director, Center for Girls’ Education, Hajiya Habiba Mohammad, said the summit was organized to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child and to amplify the voices of girls as agents of change.
She said the theme of the event ‘the girl I am; the change I lead; girls on the frontlines of crises’ shines a spotlight on the remarkable girls who are leading change in the face of adversity.
She added that in times of crisis, girls often face disproportionate challenges. They may be forced to drop out of school, face early marriage, or become vulnerable to exploitation.
“At the Center for Girls’ Education, we believe education is a powerful tool for girls to become leaders and transform their communities.
“Through our programs, we empower girls and young women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to drive positive change,” she said.
Mohammed noted that the proposed bill by the Kaduna State Assembly would complement the Center’s life-skills initiatives currently implemented in schools and help institutionalize them in the state’s education calendar.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, commended the theme of the summit, describing it as timely and relevant to the global challenges confronting the girl-child.
He expressed concern that statistics still show that one in four girls in the region gets married before the age of 18 and that girls continue to face unequal educational opportunities compared to boys.
“These are serious concerns that require urgent attention from all stakeholders,” Ahmed said.
He noted that ABU was prioritizing girls’ education, stressing that in the last academic session, females accounted for nearly 42 percent of newly admitted students.
“We want to continue improving this figure in subsequent admissions,” the VC said.
He appealed to the government and other key stakeholders in the sector to increase investment in education to ensure more girls are enrolled and retained in schools.