The Kaduna State House of Assembly has made a firm commitment to accelerate the legislative process for a crucial draft bill focused on life skills education. The proposed legislation is designed to safeguard students, with particular emphasis on protecting the girl-child, and to elevate the overall standard of education within the state.
Assembly's Pledge and Stakeholder Engagement
This assurance was delivered by the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Honourable Barrister Mamou Ismaila. He spoke at a critical stakeholders' meeting held in Kaduna on January 16, 2026. The gathering was part of the ongoing efforts to strategically institutionalize life skills education under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.
Ismaila outlined the core objectives of the bill, stating it is fundamentally about ensuring student safety and providing quality education that includes essential life competencies. "The bill is all about ensuring that our students are protected and are given quality education in terms of life skills," he emphasized.
Core Objectives and Legislative Safeguards
The proposed law seeks to address a range of pressing issues faced by students. It aims to shield them from societal ills like molestation, discrimination, and abuse. Furthermore, it is structured to tackle communication barriers, literacy deficits, and the development of basic skills, especially for students who struggle with reading, writing, or self-expression.
Before giving the bill its final approval, the Assembly has identified three critical conditions that must be met:
- The bill's scope must be clearly and comprehensively defined.
- It must avoid any overlap or duplication with existing state laws.
- Mechanisms for the effective implementation of the law, once passed, must be firmly established.
Ismaila assured stakeholders that the Assembly would conduct a meticulous review to satisfy these standards.
Focus on Systemic Integration and Girl-Child Protection
A significant portion of the bill is dedicated to the protection of the girl-child, responding to the escalating social challenges young girls encounter. "We are all aware of what is happening in our society, molestation, discrimination and other social vices. We need to protect our children from these issues," Ismaila stated.
To ensure the initiative's success even before the bill becomes law, the lawmaker advised the State Ministry of Education to proactively form a technical committee. This committee would refine the draft bill and begin developing an actionable policy framework for the state to adopt.
Reiterating the legislature's dedication, Ismaila promised that the Kaduna State House of Assembly would work diligently to ensure the bill's speedy passage into law.
Evidence and Endorsement from Education Advocates
The meeting also featured insights from civil society, notably from the Centre for Girls’ Education (CGE). Its Executive Director, Habiba Mohammed, presented compelling evidence on the transformative power of life skills education.
Mohammed cited data from large-scale programs, including the World Bank-supported AGILE project and initiatives by UNFPA, which show consistent positive outcomes. These include:
- Improved school retention rates for girls.
- Delayed early marriage.
- Enhanced decision-making abilities and stronger voices for girls.
- Healthier relationships within schools, families, and communities.
"Life skills are not 'soft outcomes'. They are foundational capabilities that protect learning, dignity and future opportunity," Mohammed asserted.
She welcomed the discussed framework for institutionalizing life skills, which involves integrating them into state education policies, curriculum, and budget lines. A robust governance structure involving the Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and other agencies is seen as key to long-term success and monitoring.
Mohammed concluded by stating that Kaduna is positioning itself as a regional leader in this educational reform. "It is about redefining what quality education means... At CGE, we believe that when systems work for girls, they work better for everyone," she added.
