UNICEF, IWEI, SUBEB to Enrol 1,500 Out-of-School Children in Jigawa
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI) and Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has announced plans to return no fewer than 1,500 out-of-school children to classrooms across Jigawa State.
Executive Director of IWEI, Hajiya Amina Hanga, revealed this while addressing journalists during the close-out ceremony of the Building Community Power to End Harmful Practices project, held at the Ahmadu Bello Hall, Jigawa State Secretariat, Dutse.
Hanga explained that UNICEF and IWEI worked closely with the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to facilitate the re-enrolment of all out-of-school beneficiaries back into formal education at their appropriate levels.
According to her, the project was implemented across selected communities in Jigawa and Katsina States, with eight communities across four local government areas participating in Jigawa.
She described IWEI as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation established in 2009, committed to equipping young women and girls with knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve financial independence and contribute meaningfully to society.
Hanga noted that the first phase of the project, conducted from January to June 2025, reached 1,500 out-of-school girls, while the second phase, held between August and November 2025, introduced Gender Transformative Positive Parenting (GTP) sessions, involving 1,200 parents—60 per cent male and 40 per cent female.
“The GTP sessions strengthened gender-equitable decision-making, promoted positive parenting and expanded family support for girls’ education and empowerment,” she said.
She added that the initiative further improved the well-being of 500 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 across Dutse, Birnin Kudu, Jahun and Kiyawa LGAs.
“Beneficiaries gained access to vocational training, financial inclusion schemes and improved economic opportunities. Communities have also shown increased commitment to ending harmful practices, including child marriage,” Hanga stated.
