Kaduna Stakeholders Demand Transparency to Boost Girls’ Education
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Stakeholders across Kaduna State’s education and finance sectors have called for tougher fiscal transparency and stronger accountability to ensure government commitments to girls’ education translate into real results.
The call came at a high-level Stakeholders’ Dialogue and Review Meeting on Fiscal Transparency and Education Policy Implementation on Thursday, convened under the Fostering Accountability for Girls’ Education (FAGE) project by Education as a Vaccine (EVA), with support from the Malala Fund and in collaboration with the Kaduna Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on improving Health and Education services.
Delivering the welcome address, EVA’s Executive Director, Oluwatoyin Chukwudozie, made it clear: the push for girls’ education is about parity, not competition.
“We don’t want more girls than boys or more boys than girls. We want equal access and equal opportunity for every child,” she said.
She stressed that while policies are drafted and budgets announced, implementation remains the real test.
“Commitments are important. But how are they being implemented? That is where accountability comes in.”
Chukwudozie noted that Kaduna’s recognition under the Open Government Partnership offers a strong foundation for transparency, citizen engagement, and improved budget tracking in education.
Representing the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Zakari reaffirmed government commitment to the girl-child, citing gains recorded under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, particularly in enrollment, retention, and completion.
“We welcome partners who join hands with us to achieve our goals in girl-child education,” he said.
From the fiscal perspective, Abdusalam Tabari, representing the Office of the Accountant General, emphasized that accountability is both a legal duty and a moral obligation.
“Every fund expended must demonstrate value for money and measurable impact,” he stated, underscoring the need for prudent resource management.
At the grassroots level, Kabiru Sambo, Vice Chairman of Igabi Local Government Area, described local governments as the closest tier to the people and critical to driving education reforms.
As discussions wrapped up, one message resonated strongly: advancing girls’ education in Kaduna will require more than policy promises, it will demand transparency, collaboration, and sustained oversight to ensure no girl is left behind.
