Empowering Women and Girls in Kaduna

By: Danladi Keziah Adamu | Columnist | WBN NEWS Africa | August 31, 2026

Kaduna’s future is closely tied to the opportunities available to its women and girls. Empowering them is not simply a matter of equality; it is an investment in stronger families, more resilient communities and a more productive economy.

Across Kaduna, efforts to expand opportunities for girls include the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), which supports secondary education, life skills, digital literacy and other interventions designed to help adolescent girls prepare for adulthood and employment. The World Bank says AGILE is operating across 18 Nigerian states and has benefited more than four million girls.

Education remains one of the most powerful pathways to empowerment. Yet girls in northern Nigeria continue to encounter barriers linked to poverty, geography, social norms and access to safe and supportive learning environments. Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment that goes beyond school enrolment to include skills, protection, health education and opportunities to participate fully in society.

Economic empowerment is equally important. In 2024, Kaduna State adopted an Affirmative Procurement Act designed to give women-led businesses greater access to public contracting opportunities. According to UN Women, the legislation allows eligible women-led businesses to bid without the previous registration requirement and provides for a 5 to 20 percent allocation of the market, depending on the type of bid.

The potential rewards of investing in girls are substantial. A UNICEF-supported 2025 analysis found that investing in interventions for out-of-school girls in two northern Nigerian states could generate an estimated $2.5 billion in societal benefits from a $114 million investment — a 21-to-1 return.

“This evidence underscores what we have always known - investing in girls is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do,” Minister of Women’s Affairs Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.

The message is clear: when girls are given opportunities to learn and women are supported to build businesses, lead and participate in decision-making, the benefits extend far beyond individuals.

Kaduna’s journey toward a stronger and more inclusive future continues. With sustained investment, collaboration and determination, more girls can stay in school, more women can build thriving livelihoods, and more communities can benefit from their talents. The future is brighter when every woman and girl has the opportunity to rise.

Editor: Joseph James Udoh

WBN Global News Desk
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