Project Period:<\/strong> June 2019 \u2013 May 2020<\/p>\n Project Background<\/strong><\/p>\n Kaduna State has historically faced significant challenges in education, including low school attendance, high dropout rates, and gender disparities in school completion. The Kaduna State Development Plan 2016\u20132020 estimated that approximately 37% of pupils dropped out by Primary Six, with girls experiencing particularly poor completion outcomes.<\/p>\n The Development Plan reported that males had a primary school completion rate of 36.9%, compared with 35.1% for females. At the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) level, the completion rate was 27.84% for males and 23.41% for females.<\/p>\n These disparities highlighted the need for stronger interventions to ensure that girls not only enrol in school but are supported to remain in school and complete their education.<\/p>\n Supporting Government\u2019s Free Education Pronouncement<\/strong><\/p>\n On 24 September 2018, the Kaduna State Government announced the introduction of free and compulsory education for girls in public secondary schools across the state. The initiative was intended to remove financial and other barriers preventing girls from accessing and completing secondary education.<\/p>\n However, AMDF observed that the government pronouncement lacked a comprehensive policy document and implementation framework to guide its effective implementation, monitoring and sustainability.<\/p>\n In response, AMDF sought support from Rise Up to advocate for the development and adoption of a policy and implementation framework that would give institutional backing to the free and compulsory education initiative.<\/p>\n The advocacy was designed to support the Kaduna State Government in closing the gender gap in education and ensuring that girls are not only enrolled in school but are retained through completion.<\/p>\n Engaging Key Stakeholders<\/strong><\/p>\n As part of the advocacy process, AMDF engaged government officials, media executives and other stakeholders to build support for the development of the policy framework.<\/p>\n The Founder and Coordinator of AMDF, Iliya Kure<\/strong>, led a delegation to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, where the team sought the support of the Commissioner, Hafsat Baba<\/strong>, for the initiative.<\/p>\n Kure explained that despite the relatively high proportion of girls enrolled in secondary schools in Kaduna State, many girls still dropped out before completing their education.<\/p>\n He noted that the absence of a supporting policy and implementation framework could undermine the sustainability of the government’s free education pronouncement.<\/p>\n According to Kure, the advocacy sought to ensure that the government’s commitment to free and compulsory education for girls was translated into a clear policy backed by an implementation framework.<\/p>\n Mobilising the Media for Advocacy<\/strong><\/p>\n AMDF also convened a breakfast meeting with media executives to sensitise them to the importance of the free and compulsory education programme and to galvanise their support for policy development.<\/p>\n The Executive Director of AMDF emphasised that the benefits of educating the girl child extend beyond individual girls, contributing to stronger families, communities and societies.<\/p>\n He called on media organisations to use their platforms to promote public awareness and generate support for the development and adoption of a policy document and implementation framework for free and compulsory education for girls in public secondary schools.<\/p>\n Media executives were encouraged to direct producers, presenters and reporters to incorporate the issue into education and current affairs programmes, radio discussions and other media platforms.<\/p>\n The Programmes Manager of Freedom Radio, Zakari Aminu<\/strong>, commended AMDF’s efforts to promote girls\u2019 education and pledged the station\u2019s support for the advocacy process. He also acknowledged AMDF\u2019s contribution to strengthening the capacity of journalists in Kaduna State.<\/p>\n Similarly, the Acting General Manager of Liberty Radio and Television, Abdulkadir Lere<\/strong>, described the initiative as timely and commendable. He pledged the station\u2019s support while noting that the absence of a policy framework remained a major challenge to the effective implementation and sustainability of free education for girls.<\/p>\n Projected Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n The 2016\u20132020 Kaduna State Development Plan indicated that only about 23% of female students completed school. AMDF\u2019s advocacy therefore sought to contribute to a significant improvement in girls\u2019 educational outcomes.<\/p>\n With the development, adoption and implementation of an appropriate policy framework, the Kaduna State Ministry of Education projected that the completion rate of female students in public secondary schools could increase from approximately 23% to 53%<\/strong>, potentially benefiting more than 224,000 girls<\/strong> across the state.<\/p>\n The project therefore focused not only on access to education but also on retention, completion, policy implementation and sustainability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Government Commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n During the engagement with AMDF, Commissioner Hafsat Baba expressed appreciation for the Foundation\u2019s advocacy and indicated her willingness to support efforts aimed at promoting girls\u2019 education in Kaduna State and the wider region.<\/p>\n She reaffirmed the importance of removing barriers to girls\u2019 education and noted the continued relevance of the state\u2019s free basic education policy.<\/p>\n AMDF\u2019s Call to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n AMDF called on government institutions, media organisations, civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to support efforts towards the development and implementation of a comprehensive policy framework for free and compulsory education for girls.<\/p>\n The Foundation further encouraged stakeholders to play an active role in monitoring implementation once the policy was adopted, ensuring that commitments made by government translated into improved enrolment, retention and completion rates for girls.<\/p>\n Through this initiative, AMDF demonstrated its commitment to using advocacy, media engagement and stakeholder mobilisation to influence policies that promote equitable access to education and advance the rights and opportunities of girls in Kaduna State.<\/p>\n The project ultimately sought to ensure that every girl in Kaduna State has the opportunity not only to enter school, but to remain in school, complete her education and realise her full potential.<\/strong> In 2019, the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), with support from Rise Up and the Public Health Institute and funding from the Cummins Foundation, implemented a project aimed at advancing… ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/amdf-centre.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AMDF-RISE-UP-596x400.jpg\")
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