The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Jigawa State Government to take deliberate measures toward increasing women’s participation in educational leadership across the state.
Rahama Rihood Mohammed, Chief of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, made the call during an event organised by the High-Level Women Advocates (HiLWA) with support from the European Union.
Mohammed said available data showed that only 14 per cent of leadership positions in the state’s education sector—such as head teachers and their deputies—are occupied by women.
He said the meeting served as a platform to review progress and identify existing challenges toward achieving gender balance in the education system.
According to him, although women constitute the majority of the teaching workforce in Jigawa, they remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions that affect school management, teacher supervision, and student performance.
“Despite their qualifications, experience, and commitment, many women are still excluded from leadership roles due to cultural and social barriers, family responsibilities, and institutional biases,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of HiLWA, Prof. Ummu Abdulwahid, said the organisation’s mission is to promote access to education for the girl-child by tackling factors responsible for low enrolment, retention, and completion rates.
She reiterated HiLWA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of gender-responsive policies and fostering collaboration with government and non-governmental actors to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls in the state’s education system.