By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Anti Sexual Violence Lead (ASVIOL) Support Initiative has intensified efforts to improve school re-entry opportunities for adolescent mothers and married girls in Kaduna State through its school-based intervention, the Aminiya Initiative, aimed at supporting vulnerable girls to return to and complete their education.
The programme, supported by the Malala Fund, seeks to address the growing challenge of school dropout among girls who leave school due to pregnancy, early marriage, and other social pressures.
It comes amid continuing concerns over gender disparities in education across northern Nigeria, where girls remain disproportionately affected by barriers such as poverty, insecurity, cultural norms, and limited access to support systems.
According to data from UNICEF and UNESCO, Nigeria continues to record one of the world’s largest populations of out-of-school children, with more than 10 million children estimated to be out of school.
Education stakeholders in Kaduna State identify adolescent pregnancy and early marriage as major factors driving school dropout among girls.
To tackle the challenge, the Aminiya Initiative has introduced a mentorship framework that trains selected teachers as “Aminiya Mentors.” These mentors are equipped to provide psychosocial support, safeguarding assistance, inclusive classroom guidance, and referral services for girls seeking to re-enter school after dropping out.
ASVIOL said the intervention is designed to strengthen school-level support systems for returning students, particularly adolescent mothers who often face stigma and exclusion despite the existence of re-entry policies.
As part of the programme’s implementation, ASVIOL recently convened a two-day stakeholder engagement and validation workshop in Kaduna.
The meeting brought together education officials, school administrators, teachers, civil society organisations, development partners, and community leaders to examine barriers affecting girls’ return to school.
Participants highlighted several challenges, including weak enforcement of existing re-entry policies, inadequate counselling services, limited teacher preparedness, and persistent stigma against adolescent mothers. They noted that while policy frameworks supporting school re-entry exist in several states, implementation remains inconsistent and often depends on the commitment of individual schools.
The workshop also underscored the need for stronger collaboration between education authorities and community structures to address social norms that discourage girls affected by pregnancy or early marriage from resuming their education.
Speaking during the engagement, ASVIOL Founder and Executive Director, Hassana Maina, said the continued dropout of girls reflects weaknesses in support systems rather than a lack of desire to pursue education.
“Too often, what is missing is not the willingness of girls to return to school, but the support systems that make return possible.
If a girl leaves school because of life circumstances, then the education system must be structured to allow her return without discrimination,” she said.
Maina, who is also a member of the Malala Fund Education Champions Network (Cohort 8), said the initiative is part of broader efforts to translate policy commitments on girls’ education into practical interventions that directly support learners at the school level.
ASVIOL stated that the Aminiya Initiative will be implemented in selected schools across Kaduna State and will focus on strengthening safeguarding mechanisms, improving student retention, and establishing referral pathways linking schools with psychosocial and protection services.
Stakeholders maintain that while policy reforms are important, the success of school re-entry programmes will ultimately depend on effective implementation within schools and communities, ensuring that girls who have dropped out are given a genuine opportunity to continue their education.
