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

Executive Director of IWEI, Hajiya Amina Hanga, disclosed this while addressing journalists at 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 said UNICEF and IWEI had concluded arrangements to reintegrate a significant number of project participants, most of whom are out-of-school children. She explained 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 worked closely with SUBEB to finalise all preparations for the children’s re-enrolment at appropriate class levels to ensure continuity in their education.

Hanga noted that IWEI—established in 2009 as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation—focuses on equipping young women and girls with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed 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.

She revealed that the first phase of the project, conducted between January and June 2025, reached 1,500 out-of-school girls, while the second phase, implemented 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.

According to her, the GTP sessions promoted positive parenting, strengthened gender-equitable decision-making, and expanded family support for girls’ education and empowerment.

She added that the project 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, giving beneficiaries access to vocational skills, financial inclusion schemes, and enhanced economic opportunities. Communities also recorded increased commitment to ending harmful practices, including child marriage.  By Ahmed Rufai, Dutse, The Nation