UNICEF, IWEI, SUBEB Set to Return 1,500 Out-of-School Children in Jigawa

 

 

All is set by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in conjunction with Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI) and Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), to return about 1,500 out-of-school children to classrooms across Jigawa State.

Executive Director of IWEI, Hajiya Amina Hanga, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen during the close-out event 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 have concluded arrangements to reintegrate a substantial number of participants from the project, most of whom are out-of-school children.

She noted that the project, implemented across Jigawa and Katsina states, covered eight communities in four local government areas in Jigawa.

As part of the initiative, IWEI and UNICEF are working closely with SUBEB to finalize all preparations for the re-enrolment of the children at their appropriate class levels to ensure continuity in their education.

Established in the year 2009, IWEI is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation—focuses on equipping young women and girls with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to achieve financial independence and contribute meaningfully to society.

“In collaboration with UNICEF, IWEI executed the Building Community Power to End Harmful Practices (Child Marriage) project in Jigawa State,” she said.

Hanga revealed that “the first phase of the project, carried out between January and June 2025, reached 1,500 out-of-school girls. The second phase, which ran from August to November 2025, introduced Gender Transformative Positive Parenting (GTP) sessions that engaged 1,200 parents—60 per cent male and 40 per cent female”.

She added that the GTP sessions promoted positive parenting, strengthened gender-equitable decision-making, and deepened family support for girls’ education and empowerment.

The project, according to her, also improved the well-being of 500 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 across Dutse, Birnin Kudu, Jahun and Kiyawa local government areas.

“Beneficiaries gained access to vocational skills, financial inclusion schemes and enhanced economic opportunities. Communities also recorded increased commitment to ending harmful practices such as child marriage,” she added.